Paris (AFP)

Amateur sport, hit by a drastic drop in memberships at the start of the school year, is once again brought to a halt by a second pandemic wave which could be fatal for clubs, even federations, so that some are calling for help from emergency.

The situation was tense.

It may be unmanageable in the weeks to come.

"Depending on the duration of this new confinement, it will be very hard to recover," warns Denis Masseglia, the boss of the French National Olympic and Sports Committee (CNOSF).

The amateur sports world, which has nearly 17 million licensees, had already recorded nearly a quarter of fewer memberships at the start of the school year, a quantifiable loss "around one billion euros", assures Denis Masseglia.

A hole that no budget line is supposed to fill so far.

Hopes of seeing clubs gradually strengthen in membership over the end of the year have vanished with this reconfinement, and the fear of seeing many amateur clubs and even federations pull back the curtain is far from being a fantasy.

"The question of the sustainability of certain clubs, even of certain federations is clearly posed. It is a real concern", affirms Emmanuelle Bonnet Oulaldj, co-president of the FSGT (sports federation).

- "Dramatic" -

Two days before the announcement of the new confinement by Emmanuel Macron, who did not utter the word "sport" during his speech, the sports world had nevertheless sounded the alarm in an open letter addressed to the President of the Republic .

Nothing did.

"We understand very well. There is a real second wave so there is a stake in limiting the progression of the virus. But there is anger that associative sport is not considered as an absolutely necessary human dimension", regrets Emmanuelle Oulaldj beanie.

Only the sports activities planned in the school context are maintained during the confinement as explained Thursday the Prime Minister Jean Castex.

But sports clubs have not obtained the right to accommodate at least minors.

"It's dramatic. We risk losing all our bundle of clubs. This decision is a disaster," said Jean-Luc Rougé, president of the French Judo Federation (FFJ), which brings together nearly 527,000 licensees in more than 5,600 clubs.

"We are in a real national difficulty, we must realize that the whole country is falling apart," said Denis Masseglia, while the CNOSF launched a survey of nearly 90 federations to have a precise inventory of their situation.

"We already feel, through the first answers, their concerns," he explains.

- "The urgency is now" -

Among these fears, that of seeing members claiming reimbursement of their memberships, or of seeing the mobilization of volunteers who represent nearly 85% of the staff of amateur clubs fall.

"Our volunteers must have things to do otherwise they will leave, and we will not be able to recover them", warns Jean-Luc Rougé.

Many plead for emergency state aid, in addition to the 120 million euros released as part of the recovery plan, including 30 million for clubs and federations.

"What is expected is that the State makes its contribution and today unfortunately, it is struggling to be put in place. For the moment it is the communities that support amateur clubs", assures the senator (LR) Michel Savin.

The question of a Pass'sports which allowed the most modest families to benefit from assistance in taking licenses has been under study for several weeks.

"But we must not dream, it will not see the light of day before the start of the 2021 school year," said a parliamentarian, "but the urgency is now".

"The question of the financing of this Pass'sport was asked in the Senate on Tuesday to the Minister (Roxana Maracineanu, editor's note), we did not have a concrete answer on which part would be supported by the State", regrets Michel Savin.

"What is certain is that if we do not have a boost in the recovery, there are some clubs that will not come out of it," warns Denis Masseglia.

© 2020 AFP