Following Novak Djokovic‘s deportation from Australia, The French government announced that all international athletes must be vaccinated to participate in competitions in the country. From this decision, The Serbian tennis player will not be able to participate in the next Roland Garros.
The Sports Minister, Roxana Maracineanu, hours after the French Parliament approved the bill that will impose a vaccination certificate that tightens restrictions on the non-immunized, stated that “It will be mandatory to enter spaces already subject to the health passport (stadiums, theaters or halls) for all spectators, practitioners, professionals, French or foreign”.
In the coming months, France will host athletes from other countries to compete in a judo tournament (the Grand Slam, February 5-6), the Six Nations rugby tournament (February 5-March 19) and Roland Garros (from May 22 to June 5), among other competitions.
a change of position
In early January, Maracineanu had hinted that Djokovic, as well as other athletes not vaccinated against the coronavirus, could participate in tournaments organized in France “since the protocol, the health bubble of these major sporting events, will allow it.”
Unlike what happens in Australia, to enter the Gallic country you do not have to have the complete vaccination schedule, but a negative covid test can be presented.
However, after the sanction of the new law It will be necessary to present the health passport to enter any establishment.
“With the vaccine passport, France is equipped with a new tool to protect its citizens,” said the Minister of Health, Olivier Véran, after the vote.
Only those who have a complete vaccination schedule with three doses, or two doses with a certification of curing the disease in the last six months or have a medical exemption from the vaccine, will be able to enter cultural sites such as cinemas, theaters or museums. The same will happen with the entrance to large shopping centers, as well as to cafes, bars and restaurants, as well as access to medium and long-distance public transport.
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