This is probably not the way they would have liked to end the year. Following the announcements of Prime Minister Jean Castex, indoor sports clubs will be subject to a health gauge of 2000 spectators, from Monday January 3 and for three weeks. A measure that risks weighing down the finances of these structures, more than those of outdoor sports.
Jean Castex announces that “for the next three weeks, large gatherings will be limited to a tonnage of 2,000 people indoors, 5,000 outdoors” pic.twitter.com/J8VemT1pvC
– franceinfo (@franceinfo) December 27, 2021
It is true that football and rugby are also affected. RC Lens will be deprived of a home party for the derby against Lille on Tuesday January 4 for the round of 16 of the Coupe de France. In the same competition, the Vannes OC (National 2, fourth level) will be deprived of a real financial windfall. The amateur club hoped to fill their stadium by hosting Paris Saint-Germain on Monday. On the rugby side, the president of the Rochelais Stadium Pierre Venayre had described the establishment of this gauge as a “dieheart”.
But these sports had to the fall of 2020, was more widely supported than indoor sports by the aid envelope of 107 million euros set up by the State. Football had received 48 million, rugby 40, while handball, basketball and volleyball had received 4 million. Generating less revenue, these sports expect financial difficulties.
“The bad surprise is that with the return of gauges, it is a drop in revenue, worries the president of Metz (D1 female handball), Thierry Weizman. This decreases revenue by 50%, from 4,000 spectators normally, we will go to 2,000. Plus the impact on the refreshments, on the VIP services that we will not be able to afford because it is very complicated (the standing service is stopped), that’s annoying.“Despite everything, men’s handball will not a priori be affected by these measures. The championship will not resume before February to make way for the Euro, from January 13 to 30 in Hungary and Slovakia.
However, some people manage to come to terms with these restrictions. The president of the Strasbourg basketball club, Martial Bellon, greeted them with pragmatism: “We escape in camera (…) It is not a satisfactory situation, but I believe that we must remain reasonable.“Either way, basketball fans will have plenty to enjoy on one last free show.
Indeed, the annual French basketball festival expects around 16,000 spectators for the Elite All Star Game in Paris Bercy on Wednesday at 19:00. This match con faces a selection of the best foreign players of the French championship at a team of the best French players. It is therefore with relief that the National Basketball League (LNB) welcomed the Prime Minister’s announcements. “We are obviously relieved that the All Star Game will be sold out.“, told AFP the director general of the LNB Michel Mimran.
Some players having injured themselves since their selection or having been affected by COVID 19, find out all the replacements for the # ASG2021 !@ASGLNB https://t.co/48KFAHtcNw
– LNB (@LNBofficiel) December 28, 2021
The All Star Game will also be an opportunity to celebrate a prosperous year for French basketball, marked by Olympic silver won by men and bronze by women in Tokyo. “It’s sure it’s cool for French basketball, that everyone can be present (in the stand, editor’s note), reacted the international back of Monaco Yakuba Ouattara (sixteen selections). We were a little afraid of the measures that were going to be taken, and when they were going to be put in place. You should take advantage. “
But the shadow of covid-19 hangs over the event, as the positive cases have flooded the clubs in recent days (Nanterre, Metropolitans 92, Asvel) and fundamentally overhauled the original selection. Six infected players, including Villeurbanne point guard Chris Jones and Boulogne-Levallois leader’s back Keith Hornsby, had to be replaced. As well as the coach of the world selection TJ Parker, also tested positive.