Paris (AFP)

The president of the French Athletics Federation (FFA) André Giraud has requested the "support" of mayors for the "provision of outdoor sports facilities" to allow the reopening of clubs and the resumption of training for athletes as part of the deconfinement, in an open letter sent Tuesday to the Association of Mayors of France (AMF).

"The French Athletics Federation requests the solidarity support of elected officials from local and regional authorities, in particular for the provision of outdoor sports facilities. Their availability on exclusive time slots is an important condition for the organization of practices and the resumption of the activity of our clubs, sports associations (Law 1901) ", wrote Mr. Giraud in the letter addressed to the president of the AMF, François Baroin.

"Our leaders, coaches, officials and all of our athletes are eager to resume their activities. Sport, and athletics in all its forms, are becoming fundamental during the period we are going through, for all age groups, throughout the country and on all natural and landscaped grounds. Our 2,500 clubs are places of welcome and support adapted to the resumption of sporting activity which it is important to favor ", also noted the president of the FFA.

"If we allow the practice of athletics but the mayor of a town decides to keep its stadium closed, the recovery will not be possible," said André Giraud.

The FFA published on Monday the conditions for resuming training in clubs for athletes, which partly echo the recommendations of its medical commission and the Ministry of Sports. Group sessions will be limited to 10 people, an area of ​​4 m² must be respected between each individual at the stop and a distance of 10 m between runners. For launchers or jumpers, the equipment must be disinfected after each change of user. Access to the changing rooms will also be prohibited.

The FFA medical committee had however expressed "reservations" about a possible resumption of club training after seven weeks of confinement in France due to the coronavirus pandemic, considering its own recommendations "complex to organize, even in some clubs, impossible to set up ".

Regarding competitions, National Technical Director Patrice Gergès, interviewed by AFP, explained that their resumption would not take place in France before September.

"The message to the athletes is: + Do not rush, take the time to recover from the deconfinement and re-athleticize +", said Patrice Gergès.

© 2020 AFP