When one of the biggest planetary stars in sport is forced to go into isolation for a few days because of the return of Covid-19 and its variants, there is probably reason to be concerned about new for the good performance of sport on the planet in the coming months.
On the night of Tuesday to Wednesday, NBA star of the Los Angeles Lakers, LeBron James was excluded from the game against the Sacramento Kings, under the Covid-19 health and safety protocols of the North American championship. It is not clear whether he has tested positive for the coronavirus, notably by the Omicron variant, or only in close contact with someone who has been. Vaccinated, James must now present two negative tests before being allowed to return to the field.
But the simple fact that a champion like him, vaccinated and overprotected is forced to put his activity on hold for a few days shows how the world of sport is not rid of the Covid.
On the other side of the world, China already admits that the new variant will be “synonymous with additional difficulties for the organization of the Beijing Winter Olympics” (February 4 to 20). Already, while the Chinese borders have been practically closed since March 2020, the Games will take place in a health bubble from which the some 2,900 expected athletes will not be able to leave, and without foreign spectators. Participants must also either be vaccinated or undergo a 21-day quarantine upon arrival. All will be screened daily.
And you don’t have to go that far to measure growing worry. In France, it goes up. In Ligue 1, Oscar Garcia the coach of Reims and his assistant Ruben Martinez were diagnosed positive. They will not be in Lyon this Wednesday evening. In Lille, the administrative staff is concerned by a cluster which affects around twenty people. The staff and all the players are not concerned.
Faced with this concern, all the clubs are strengthening their health protocol and barrier gestures. Wearing a mask has become compulsory again in Bordeaux or Marseille for everyone when they go to the weight room or to treatment. Almost everywhere, social distancing has once again become the norm in restaurant areas. Rugby for its part is also tightening its anti-Covid measures. As for indoor sports, basketball, handball or volleyball, wearing a mask is once again absolutely compulsory for the public in the stands. The fear of French sports players and beyond is the return of gauges or even the worst of the worst, the return of closed doors.
