Following the sad news of the death of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, The National Mourning Guidance has now been issued and is available to view here.
Information pertaining to major events and sports can be viewed on page three of the document. Guidance on website and social media is available on page five.
As the guidance notes, there is no formal obligation for organisations to postpone or cancel sporting fixtures or events, at either elite or grassroots level, between now and the State Funeral.
Decisions will remain at the discretion of individual organisations and sports to consider how they should proceed during the mourning period.
If events are held, organisers may wish to hold a period of silence and/or play the National Anthem at the start of events or sporting fixtures, and participants may wish to wear black armbands as a mark of respect.
Over the weekend it has been announced that Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s State Funeral will take place on Monday 19 September – with further details here. It has also been confirmed that this day will be marked as a national bank holiday.
The National Mourning Guidance references the State Funeral and guidance for major sports and events. It suggests the following:
As a mark of respect, organisations might wish to consider cancelling or postponing events or closing venues on the day of the State Funeral.
They are under no obligation to do so and this is entirely at the discretion of individual organisations. If sporting fixtures or events are planned for the day of the State Funeral, organisations may want to adjust the event timings so they do not clash with the timings of the funeral service and associated processions.
As a mark of respect, and in keeping with the tone of National Mourning, organisers may wish to hold a period of silence and/or play the National Anthem at the start of events or sporting fixtures, and players may wish to wear black armbands.