The experiments are both on humans.

Experiment #1 commenced on Monday – Boris Johnson’s so called Freedom Day.

ASE checked what this meant for the event industry in the UK.

The UK Government guidelines for events and visitor attractions covers – indoor and outdoor attractions, performing arts venues, Indoor and outdoor events of any size

• Complete a health and safety risk assessment that includes risks from COVID-19
• Turn people with COVID-19 symptoms away
• Provide adequate ventilation
• Clean more often
• Enable people to check in at your venue
• Communicate and train

As far as I can tell there are no capacity restrictions on venues – indoors or outdoors. Although it is recommended, there is no requirement to collect contact details of staff or attendees.

The latter is in stark contrast to the intense focus on contract tracing in Australia.

ASE asked Professor Joe Goldblatt, who these days resides in Edinburgh, Scotland, for his take on this situation.

First, it is important to note that the decisions being made in Scotland are generally more cautious than in our neighbouring regions.

Secondly, our national events agency in Scotland, Events Scotland has done an excellent job of communicating with the sector and providing relevant information and effective education to help speed recovery

Thirdly and finally, the audience ultimately determines how rapidly the recovery shall proceed.  Although you may see stadiums filled with fans, I believe that other audiences such as in culture, may be more cautious and therefore the recovery shall be a slow but steady one for Scotland and our neighbours.

Experiment #2 also commenced this week – the 2020ne Tokyo Olympics.

Now I love the Olympics as much as anyone else, especially the ceremonies, but this is a classic case of vested interests prevailing over sensibility.

I have been saying since last year that the Tokyo Olympics should have been postponed until 2024 and then Paris to 2028 and LA until 2032.

Already over 70 cases of COVID infection have been identified in people accredited for the Tokyo Olympics.

Queenslanders are of course delighted that they get the Games in 2032.

I’m looking forward watching the Opening Ceremony tomorrow night, which itself has attracted controversy with the opening and closing ceremony director sacked over comments he made in 1998.  Koboyashi’s dismissal follows the resignation of Opening Ceremony composer Keigo Oyamada earlier this week and the Tokyo 2020 Olympics chief Yoshiro Mori who resigned in February.

And not to be left out Australia has its own controversy after a rather bizarre press conference celebrating the Brisbane announcement. 

It is going to be very interesting to watch how both these situations play out.  

And the countdown to that – delivered by Skylighter Fireworks 

Standby Pyro in…

10. Days to get the job completed from start to finish

9. Firing locations across Brisbane City

8. Government agencies and stakeholders involved

7. Days of permits, notifications, and closures

6. Work and fire boats

5. Fireworks Barges

4. City Rooftops

3. Systems to ensure that it all went off with split second timings

2. Two days of setting up onsite

1. A huge announcement of BNE Olympics 2032 with Fireworks! GO!