The Damloop could even become two-way traffic by having a group start in Amsterdam and one in Zaandam and have them walk the course as a counterflow. This seems chaotic, but with the simulation software you can easily see whether this works and whether other routes should be chosen. This has the advantage that you can have larger groups walk and, for example, always have public transport 'full'. In the current method, buses drive full to Amsterdam and empty to Zaandam.
Simulations are the way to see if the plans devised by the organization can actually be realized. And in a responsible way. We know from experience that the simulations have a high degree of accuracy. They can also provide insight into the possible implications of the (future) standards set by RIVM & government for such events.
To survive
Of course, it is also a tough time for Le Champion: never in the club's fifty-year history have so many events been cancelled in a row. Will the organisation be able to survive, many people wonder? How do they think they will be able to organise sporting events again in the future? Questions that sometimes have an answer, and sometimes not. But there is confidence in the club's resilience: "In fifty years, we have fortunately built up a healthy and solid club that will not simply blow over. This is of course an exceptional crisis, but we are working on creative and innovative solutions. We can benefit from that in a next phase. We will definitely come out of this stronger."
In recent years, there have been some france telegram data cancellations, such as stopped or cancelled events due to excessive heat and risks to public health. A professional organization takes its responsibility and at Le Champion they see this responsibility. But it has never been as extreme as it is now.
The national government, safety region and mayor all have a say in events. The cabinet has the most power, but a mayor can also decide, in consultation with advisors and security services, that an event will not go ahead for serious reasons. Ultimately, it was Le Champion himself who had to decide in the case of the Dam tot Dam weekend whether it could go ahead. In consultation with the mayor of Zaanstad, of course, in his role as chairman of the Safety Region. The permit issuer has a heavy voice in this and is whispered to by security services such as the GHOR.
This year there will be no Dam tot Damloop. Ultimately, it was not an option to continue. Partly due to the government's guidelines for large events, the large number of people present along the routes, the responsibility for the health of the participants and the pressure on medical emergency services and care institutions.
Is this the best decision? According to van der Jagt, yes: “It is of course a great shame, because it is a wonderful event and a great disappointment for people who were training for it, for the organization and for the public. But the decision was also inevitable. The government, local administrators, security services: everyone is of course very cautious because of all the risks. We have therefore mainly seen support and understanding for the fact that we have taken our responsibility. Everyone understands that this is not the time for such a big event.
