Cyber technology firm VST Enterprises has submitted pilot programmes to the government which it claims could help return fans to sports venues.
The ‘Fans are back’ programmes, recently submitted to the Department of Culture Media & Sport and Prime Minister’s Office, have been talked up by former Sports Minister Richard Caborn.
They aim to help football, rugby, snooker and other sports safely embrace the return of supporters following Boris Johnson’s pledge to get stadiums open by October.
The pilots would use COVID-19 rapid testing kits which produce results in 10 minutes along with GDPR–compliant digital health passports to authenticate and validate the results.
The proposals are for a sample group of between 500-5,000 home fans tested a day prior to a specially designated football or rugby match.
Caborn said: “This is exactly what the government need to be encouraging sports administrators to adopt for fans to be safe in coming back into the sports stadiums and major events.
“By running the ‘Fans are back’ test pilot programme, this will allow the football and rugby clubs to trial a programme of rapid testing and using a V-Health Passport to confirm and authorise a person’s COVID status.
“In my opinion it is a significant and positive way in ensuring that spectator sports can resume in the UK where we test, test, test and use a health passport to validate that test result.
“That is the only way we can ensure that sports fans are safely entering a stadium as test negative.”
Unlike contact tracing apps used by the government, VST says its V-Health Passport does not track or trace a person’s live location or breach personal privacy protocols – and ensures personal data is ultra secure by using the most advanced security protocols and encryption.
It has partnered with sports marketing consultancy REDSTRIKE, public safety and event management firm HALO Solutions and occupational health care company Latus Health for the pilots.
HALO has extensive experience managing and supporting events such as the Cricket World Cup 2019, Isle Of Wight Festivals, BBC Sports Personality Of The Year to British Athletics providing event safety and management.
Medical administration and testing will be carried out by Latus Health and Infinite Global Possibilities who have extensive experience in occupational health for corporates and COVID-19 testing with clients ranging from investment bank JP Morgan to Morrison’s supermarkets.
Should it complete successful trials, VST says other pilot programs will then be rolled out across music concerts, theatre and entertainment venues.