Minors will be able to practice indoor sports in gymnasiums and swimming pools from December 15, except for contact sports, the sports ministry said on Friday (December 11th). Even if it is the period of school holidays, where there is sometimes a cut in the practice in clubs and associations, this will nevertheless allow the courses to take place, argues the ministry.
This possibility of resuming indoor sport in December was mentioned on November 17 by Emmanuel Macron, subject to sanitary conditions, still only for minors. Outdoor practice resumed at the end of November, for football, for example. The PE and extracurricular classes have not been stopped.
Resumption of practice must respect the curfew put in place, with “A return home at 8 pm”, and “Excludes sports practices with contacts”, specified the ministries of national education and sports. The practice must be done in compliance with health protocols and “With access to collective changing rooms”, they specify.
For adults, still no indoor practice (gymnasiums, swimming pools), except for high level athletes and physical education students, or people who are prescribed sports by prescription (for a chronic disease, for example) , as well as people with recognized disabilities.
“Only professional athletes, top athletes, people in vocational training and people with recognized disabilities (…)” and supervisors “Will be authorized to derogate from the curfew during their travels”, they also specified.
20% loss of memberships
In the mountains, the ski lifts remain closed, “Except for minors supervised by a federal club” and top athletes. Snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and ski touring, even supervised, are authorized within the limit of six people.
Amateur sport is severely affected by the crisis. The loss of memberships has been estimated at 20% on average by the French National Olympic and Sports Committee (CNOSF). He announced Thursday how he was going to distribute, together with the National Sports Agency (ANS), an emergency fund of 900,000 euros to help the most threatened federations.
It thus received 64 files from federations which recorded a loss of memberships of more than 30% (32.37%), representing a total of 145 million euros. “The total amount “floor” of the financial assistance that they consider essential for the survival of their federal organization from 2020 is expressed to the tune of just over 10 million euros ”, said the CNOSF.
In the end, 25 federations were deemed to have priority for the award: the Sports and Gymnastics Federation of Labor (FSGT, multisports), Basque pelota, savate and French boxing, strength, kick-boxing, stick twirling, Chinese dance, energy and martial arts, taekwondo, karate, rescue and first aid, billiards, physical education and voluntary gymnastics, American football, swimming, boxing, adapted sport, shooting archery, badminton, retirement, rugby union, USEP (primary school), water skiing, wrestling and weight lifting.
Regarding professional sport, stadium stands remain closed, and it will continue behind closed doors at least until January 7, Prime Minister Jean Castex said during a press conference on Thursday.
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