And finally it will be… vaccination for all! After the expulsion of Novak Djokovic from Australia, many were waiting to know France‘s position regarding unvaccinated foreign athletes who will come to France to participate in a sporting event. Roxana Maracineanu clarified things. “The vaccine pass has been adopted. As soon as the law is promulgated, it will become compulsory to enter public buildings already subject to the health pass (stadium, theater or lounge) for all spectators, practitioners, French or foreign professionals, “tweeted the Minister Delegate. at sports on Sunday evening. “We will work together to preserve the competitions and to be ambassadors for these measures at the international level,” added Roxana Maracineanu.
The Government has therefore chosen not to make a difference between French or foreign athletes playing in France, who will be subject in a few days to the vaccination pass to enter all establishments open to the public (ERP), and athletes from other countries. , entering France to take part in a competition for a few days.
As we indicated on Saturday, the subject had been debated for several days within the Government and during meetings of the interministerial crisis unit (CIC). Two trends stood out: a health bubble for unvaccinated foreign athletes (and those who had been bitten with a vaccine not validated by France) and a harder line of compulsory vaccination for everyone.
Do not upset the French subject to the vaccination pass
Although Roxana Maracineanu initially defended the idea of bubbles, she gradually changed her point of view. When the vaccination pass comes into effect, it will apply to everyone. A decision that will simplify things for the organizers, who will not need to put in place different protocols depending on whether the athletes are vaccinated or not. A decision which will also avoid raising discontent less than 100 days before the Presidential, the French hardly enjoying the idea that an exception is made for foreign sportsmen, while the vaccine is imposed on them for attend a sporting event or a show.
It remains to be seen whether or not Djokovic will participate in the Roland-Garros tournament. To date, no. Unless there is a clear improvement in the health situation or an exemption if he has, for example, caught the Covid. This was the case in December for the Serb, but we do not yet know the terms or the duration of the possible exemptions.
Sunday, Gilles Moretton, the President of the French Tennis Federation, had explained that he was discussing, for Roland-Garros, the terms of reception of the players. “Our teams are working in collaboration with the public authorities, who will specify in due course the rules relating to the reception of unvaccinated foreign athletes for our tournament”, specified Gilles Moretton. A few hours later, Roxana Maracineanu decided. To enter a sports hall or show and in a stadium, you will have to be vaccinated, whatever your nationality, and whether you are a participant, a spectator… or a world number one.
