Coach Steven Gleeson and athletes seen playing mahjong without wearing masks in a picture on social media
All athletes and staff have been told to maintain social distancing and wear masks in public areas when they are not training
Topic | Hong Kong Sports Institute
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Hong Kong Sports Institute triathlon coach Steven Gleeson has paid a heavy price for infringing coronavirus lockdown rules after having his contract terminated by the elite training centre. A notice from the Hong Kong Triathlon Association said the coach had left the Institute and they wished him the best in his future endeavours. “This is the decision made by the Sports Institute as the coach’s employer and we are not in an appropriate position to comment on the case,” said association vice-president Wan Shu-wah. “But we have to inform our members that the coach is no longer with the Institute as the members may come across him in future.” Gleeson declined to comment on his sudden departure last week, but a now-deleted picture on social media showed the Australian playing mahjong with some of his squad members in his office. None of them were wearing a mask as required by the Institute when not training, and they also ignored social distancing requirements during the lockdown period.
The Institute in Fo Tan has been closed down since late March when three athletes and two coaches from the karate team tested positive for coronavirus after returning from training camps in Europe. Athletes and staff members who chose to stay in the centre have to observe strict precautionary measures to avoid infection. A member of the group said they were not gambling but were undergoing some team-building exercises.
“We were wrong for not putting on masks as required and ignoring the social distancing rule, but were definitely not gambling as people might think,” said the member who did not want to be named. “We have already reported the case but are not sure if the Institute will impose any punishment.”
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