Gym, junior indoor sport welcomed back

GYMS and indoor sport for under-18s are back in regional Victoria.

It was the news fitness fanatics and sport lovers alike had been waiting for, and Sunday’s changes to COVID-19 restrictions announced by Premier Daniel Andrews provided the first steps to many reacquainting themselves with this aspect of their life.

As of 11.59pm on Tuesday this week, gyms in regional Victoria are allowed to have up to 20 people in them, with a maximum 10 in each space, while indoor sport and recreation facilities can have 10 patrons at a time.

Anytime Fitness Torquay owner Robert Panetta was stoked to be able to welcome people back through the doors. He said this year had brought its challenges from a business point of view, but the most important thing was the ability for the club’s members to get back such a valuable part of their life.

“I think it’s just good for everyone to have something different and have some sort of routine for everyone.

“The members really felt the pinch… it’s just an escape from work and life, it’s hard when you take that away from them.”

Geelong Vic Beach owner Greg Jury said it was fantastic to reunite the community at Vic Beach – which hosts beach volleyball and rebound soccer – and was eyeing it as an opportunity to focus on the junior program.

“Our kids are just itching to get back out there.

“We’re rapt to offer our kids a chance to get back into our community. We have such a strong community at Vic Beach and to start to get that back together is such an exciting opportunity.”

Vic Beach will initially return with its coaching programs, offering plenty of one-on-one coaching before returning to competition in the coming weeks in a pairs format.

Panetta said his gym would use a booking system to ensure no more than 20 patrons were in the facility at any one time.