The Government has made it clear that is did not organise the football and boxing events in the past week, but that it did work with organisers to guarantee a safe environment.
This comes after a group calling themselves “Freedom Gibraltar” protested against what it calls, the Government’s ‘controversial decision’ to deny entry into events to unvaccinated individuals.
In answer to GBC questions, Number Six said it will not be making vaccinations mandatory.
This is from CNN travel: Consider the source...
Unlocking the World
Events have also returned to the Rock as Gibraltar hosted what's thought to be the first fully vaccinated major sporting fixture in the world on Saturday.
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Five hundred spectators, each tested for Covid-19 prior to the event, were able to witness British heavyweight fighter Dillian Whyte claim victory over Russia's Alexander Povetkin at Gibraltar's Europa Sports Complex.
The fight, called the Rumble on the Rock, was originally meant to take place at the Matchroom HQ, a venue in southeastern England, but was switched to Gibraltar thanks to its Covid-19 safe environment.
Soccer fans were also allowed to witness sporting matches starting with Gibraltar's World Cup qualifier clash against the Netherlands on Tuesday.
Victoria Stadium welcomed 600 attendees who had previously received two doses of the vaccine and tested negative for the virus on the day of the match.
The game was being used as a pilot case study by Gibraltar's government to assess future events in its continued efforts to steer the territory back to normality.
Seems a bit coordinated - mass vaccinations and news of "freedom". - 🇬🇮 The Vaccine Connection to Death on The Rock
Speaking to us ahead of the game, Dr Bhatti described the Rock's recent sporting events as experiments, following the vaccination rollout. - 🇬🇮 The Vaccine Connection to Death on The Rock - #2 by Cloudcity
People have no clue how much experimentation is happening right under the noses.
Also, maybe football received a bit of karma for going along with the evil agenda (mass vaccinations, digital IDs - easing people into the surveillance state starting with venues) –
They are using false idols to lure you, ie -
News of the elderly deaths in Gibraltar have been replaced with the worldwide media spin that Gibraltar is a "glowing example" of freedom through vaccination.
Maybe they do need to build that monument to remember their sacrifice - because they don't seem to be remembering them any other way.
https://www.yourgibraltartv.com/society/23177-erg-studying-legal-challenge-on-fundamental-rights
"Written by YGTV Team on 06 April 2021.
The Equality Rights Group says that aspects of the Government’s COVID-19 plan are “disproportionate and incoherent,” adding that there are enduring “underlying practical implications” for fundamental rights in Gibraltar.
A statement continued: ‘While Equality Rights Group (ERG) has consistently welcomed the fact that government, in the exercise of its duty of care to this community, has conducted a careful management campaign with regard to the control of the Covid-19 threat, there continue to be aspects of that plan which, in our view, have proven disproportionate and incoherent. Aspects which we have brought to government’s and the public’s attention. Regrettably, the administration’s response to date has been cold silence,’ the group said today in a communiqué.
‘As a human and civil rights organisation in Gibraltar, this is of concern because of underlying practical implications for the safeguarding of fundamental rights; rights which we all take for granted in our democracy and which, unless those implications are challenged, could lead to gradual and covert erosion of our way of life,' Chair Felix Alvarez added.
‘We all know how many brave women and men made the ultimate sacrifice in the past to guarantee those rights for us. Each year we remember them, and ERG is determined to honour their invaluable legacy. A legacy which, it is true, at times crosses difficult and competing interests; but which cannot be violated on a mere say-so by governments of any hue. In a democracy, the process of proper legitimization must answer to more than temporary power. And, as is happening today in Gibraltar and elsewhere, groups of citizens are calling us to question executive decisions made on the basis of little if any accountability.
‘Commenting on a demonstration by a number of people under the name of ‘Freedom Gibraltar’, the Chief Minister recently reminded the public that the Constitution is the guarantor of our rights in Gibraltar, and that concerns can be addressed judicially. A position we cannot fault. The Chief Minister is right.
‘Yet let us be honest: the reason why the Courts are not able to address a number of citizens’ issues is because most people cannot afford the high cost of justice, even though, as Mr. Picardo points out, legal aid or assistance may be available in limited circumstances. Faced with the overwhelming Executive power and financial resources available to the government of Gibraltar, the ordinary person in the street cannot operate on a level playing field when questioning the Administration's actions or decisions. Mr. Picardo knows this, as do we all. It is a serious imbalance in our society that while those with surplus personal resources can afford justice, and at the other end of the spectrum, those who are close to recognised poverty may be legally aided, the overwhelming majority of middle income citizens can face the risk of financial ruin in the face of a real hurt or grievance. It is difficult to recognise justice in this.
‘As an organisation set up over two decades ago to defend people’s rights, and given the context of recent wide lifting of restrictions, we have therefore written to the Chief Minister asking him again to address outstanding issues of disproportionality; because it is only through dialogue that polarisation of views can be avoided. And there can be little doubt that this is happening. We are once more, therefore, appealing to government’s reasonableness in this respect; but where no engagement is offered, the wisdom of the courts exists, and ERG will seriously consider recourse,' the statement ends.¨
Strict protocols:
No Under 18s allowed
Tickets could only be sold to individuals who could prove they had received their second vaccine dose at least 10 days prior to the events.
Tickets were confirmed only after a negative test on the day of the events.
All attendees will be re-tested in the next week.
...a social experiment of what the organisation of sporting events might look like in a post-Covid world.
https://www.sportsandtaxation.com/2021/04/football-in-gibraltar-the-new-normality-experiment/
"Written by YGTV Team on 07 April 2021.
Freedom Gibraltar, the group behind the recent protest at a car park overlooking Victoria Stadium, says they are saddened by what they see as the “failure” of the Government of Gibraltar to fully address the issues raised in its Press Release of April 1st. The group argues that while it is delighted that vaccines will not be made mandatory in Gibraltar, it believes that the Government and some local businesses are discriminating against those who have chosen not to have the COVID-19 vaccine.
A statement continued: “Whilst Freedom Gibraltar are delighted their recent Press Release has prompted the Government to announce that ‘Vaccines’ will not be made mandatory in Gibraltar, (as required in section 7.3.1 of The Council of Europe resolution 2361) they feel that this is a diversion tactic to distract the public as to why section 7.3.2 of the same resolution, which demands that authorities ‘ ensure that no one is discriminated against for not having been vaccinated, due to possible health risks or not wanting to be vaccinated’ has not been addressed following recent, highly public breaches.
“Under the aforementioned resolution, the group calls for Government to state on record that no further discrimination will be applied to those who are not ‘vaccinated’ against Covid-19 as has been the case recently, by way of restrictions of any kind and furthermore, as vaccines are not to be mandated, there need be no more speculation on requirement for proof of vaccination.
“Under Section 14.(1) of the Data Protection Act 2004, no business, organisation, individual or service (other than the person’s own physician) should be permitted to question any individual as to their private personal medical data, however we have had worrying reports of customers in bars and restaurants demanding to know personal staff vaccination status and some venue management being subjected to serious verbal abuse for protecting their legal right to privacy.”
The group says it is also “extremely concerned” by reports it claims it has received from Government employees who report being subjected to “coercive pressure” to be vaccinated under threat of “job losses, denial of promotion or non-renewal of regular contracts.” The group says that coercion by any means is unlawful, but using “thinly-veiled threats” to people’s very livelihoods in order to bypass the freedom of bodily autonomy not to undergo any medical intervention without informed consent is “unforgivable and cannot be tolerated.”
“Freedom Gibraltar asks the Government to make a public declaration to clarify that no more discrimination of any kind will be acceptable by any public or private business or organisation in Gibraltar, with special emphasis on Government Departments and sectors, in order to prevent the precedent of a divisive, two-tier society that is beginning to emerge.”
Freedom Gibraltar once again called for the removal of Director of Public Health Sohail Bhatti.
In response to questions from YGTV, the Government this afternoon said: “The allegations from this group are unfounded and untrue”."
