The year 2020 presented itself as a year full of challenges for the ConXioN Omloop van Vlaanderen. The main challenges we set ourselves at the start of the year were:
Building European appeal
A first step for this was taken in 2019 when a multi-year agreement was signed with the promoters of the Tour European Rally. In 2020, many efforts were already made to expand this group of European participants. Today, we can definitely say that this challenge has succeeded with a very extensive international field of participants. This European appeal benefits the entire region where the rally takes place, which benefits from it in several ways. The economic benefit in these times with strong occupancy in the hospitality industry, the publicity and tourism benefit through the many wide reports on our race that are broadcast on television worldwide, thus promoting the region. Likewise, we are particularly proud to announce that our ecological competition E Rally counts for the Tour European rally. This will give it a European flavour.
Roularta anchoring
Because as a Roeselare association we consider it important to have a sustainable local anchoring, we invested from the Koninklijke Automobiel Club Midden-Vlaanderen (KAMV) in the purchase of a business unit located in the Herderstraat in Roeselare.
Besides these two major challenges and the annual challenge of organising a perfect rally technical competition and the associated logistical work, the challenge in 2020 became much greater due to the Covid-19 pandemic. To this day, we continue to work motivated daily with the belief that it is possible to organise a safe race within the imposed measures. Our organisation has a strong tradition and reputation in organising a safe motorsport competition, with the very good cooperation with the various government services being primary. From this strong cooperation, we are therefore convinced that all of us together can organise our race Covid proof!
In the context of organising a safe competition, we would like to take the following measures:
OUR COMMITMENT:
Race participants: On August 11, a meeting will be convened by the promoter and the Federal Motorsport Federation on the measures to be taken within motorsport for the remaining races within the championship. Our organisation advocates the following measures: Each participating team will consist of a bubble of maximum five people, either pilot, co-pilot and three mechanics. The organisation will hold the details of at least one person each from a participating team so that contact tracing is guaranteed at all times. Pilot and co-pilot are obliged to wear a mouth mask if they are not in the racing car and the one and a half metre distance cannot be guaranteed. The mouth mask will become mandatory when giving an interview, at a regrouping zone, inside the service area. All documents used will be digitised to the maximum extent possible to rule out transmission of the virus via paper. Where this is not possible, the organisation will provide hand gels.
Technical control / collection of documents: Registration at these places will only be possible by the minimum number of people. One person per team for document collection and two people per team for technical control. Every person involved in the team, organisation or federation must wear mouth masks at all times, hand gels will be provided, walking lines will be drawn using the stickers mentioned below, keeping a distance will be indicated by floor markings. Every participating team will receive a digital and printed pamphlet of the Covid measures taken by the organisation. Participating teams can contact our central dispatching number at any time for questions about this.
Service zone: No public will be allowed in the service zone. The service area will be completely closed off at the entrance posts to the public and unauthorised persons. Every person in the bubble within a participating team will have to wear a recognisable band that identifies them as a team. The organisation will supervise that only those wearing the correct band will gain access to the service park. Furthermore, the usual measures will be taken for the recognition of residents and employees within the companies. No bands will be handed out here to prevent their illegal distribution.
Employees: Our employees each receive a special wristband allowing them to identify themselves as employees. The organisation has details of each employee so that contact tracing is guaranteed at all times. Every employee receives a pamphlet with the Covid measures taken and a mouth mask. Every employee is briefed on how to perform their job Covid proof.
Runway posts, Stewards, entrance posts: Every runway post, Steward and entrance post should wear a chasuble of the organisation and be recognisable in this way. Here too, the organisation has personal data so that contact tracing is possible. Everyone is given a pamphlet with the Covid measures taken and a mouth mask. Everyone is briefed on how to perform their duties Covid proof.
Limited spectators per special stages: At each special stage, our organisation will provide a unique bubble of the maximum number of spectators allowed, which may not mix. Each spectator will have access to only 1 special stage and will be allowed to use separate entry bracelets.
For example, a spectator for KP Zilverberg has a blue entry band and a spectator for KP Rumbeke has a yellow entry band. Only spectators with the correct entry tape will be allowed access to the relevant special stage. This control will be done by entry and/or track posts. A total of 9 different colour codes will be provided.
Ticket sales and traceability: The organisation will work with an experienced company in online ticket sales. This company will keep all spectator data according to GDPR legislation and have to make it available in case of a contact tracing request. At all times, both the organisation, or other services after request through the organisation, can check the number of tickets sold. Ticket sales will be delayed for as long as possible , in all likelihood early in the rally week, in order to release as correct a number of tickets as possible according to the rules in force at the time. This will always be done in consultation with the administrative authorities. Beforehand, the organisation will make the colour of the tickets per stage known internally to the authorities to facilitate a control on the spot during the weekend. Externally, the colours will not be disclosed until collection to avoid fraud.
Ticket collection: Ticket collection will also take place separately per special stage at different locations. A ticket can only be obtained via a unique code provided by the external company organising our ticket sales as mentioned above. Fraud is excluded. For each pick-up point, we provide sufficient parking space, walking lines and distance are maintained, mouth masks are compulsory... Each person picking up tickets will receive a pamphlet with the Covid measures taken by the organisation. This practical elaboration or allocation of venue will continue. No mouth masks will be offered by the organisation at ticket sales. In these times, we are convinced that every citizen already possesses one. This will be pointed out via social media, website etc and the duty of wearing a mouth mask at all times with being at the competition will also be pointed out.
Access to a special stage: The organisation will provide a number of spectator points per special stage where all Covid measures are in force. The organisation will purchase 1,000 stickers with red and green arrows defining the walking lines for the spectators present. These stickers will either be clearly displayed on the ground or hung on a white board. Access posts monitor that only people with the correct band are allowed access to the audience zone and check the wearing of a mask. Walking lines will also be marked out within the audience zone. These will be made known by hanging them on a white board attached to a rebar. Additional ribbon will be placed to indicate the walking direction and to separate our public zone. Because of the vastness of a special stage, we are convinced that keeping your distance cannot and will not be a problem.
Mouth masks: A mouth mask will be provided for each employee. A total of 1,000 mouth masks will be purchased for this purpose.
Hand gel: Hand gels will be provided at various places (document collection, ticket sales, technical control)
Raising awareness: For the use of mouth masks and hand gels, sensitisation will take place at places such as ticket sales, technical control, document collection ... This will be done through pictograms, flyers, website and social media.
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