Members of the French Covides team on Tuesday expressed their grief over being treated as plagued by "plague", as they are "held against their will" in Abu Dhabi following the cancellation of the Emirates tour due to the concerns of the Corona virus.
Sports were severely affected by the global outbreak of the disease, as competitions such as the Chinese Grand Prix in the Formula 1 World Championships were postponed in April, and the Italian league was chaotic after the games were rescheduled.
The personal impact of the crisis on the athletes was highlighted by the plight of the French Coffees who were quarantined after the cancellation of the seven-day Emirates tour after the establishment of five rounds last week. The tests of two Italian members of the team came positive - according to the organizers - but the Abu Dhabi Health Ministry did not confirm this.
"We are being held against our will in a place we did not choose for an unknown period of time," Terry Vito, team leader, said in a statement from his hotel room.
"The roads on the door of my room have just been completed, this breakfast must be left in front of the door, in this way they bring us our meals. When we meet anyone from the hotel in the hallway, it runs from in front of us, this leads me to another comparison, we are treated as if we are victims plague".
"Our rooms have not been cleaned since we arrived five days ago. We have to go in front of the elevator. There is a cart and we are helping ourselves to get sheets, soap and towels."
| UAE canceled bicycle race, fearing the spread of Corona after injuries among riders (Getty Images) |
"I think the fans understand the current procedures because they are working to protect everyone," said team coach Florian Covildt.
Personal contact has now become a problem even among members of a single team and competitors.
The England cricket team told the men that they would not shake hands with each other during a tour of Sri Lanka due to the outbreak of the virus.
The Australian Formula 1 season is due to start on the 15th of this month despite the outbreak. But there is a headache because of the Vietnamese Grand Prix next April, which is scheduled to take place before the Chinese Grand Prix and has already been postponed.
Conditions for entry to Vietnam have been tightened for Italians due to the Corona virus, but the major sports car series hopes the race will take place.
Doubts also hover over the return match of the 16th round of the European Champions League between Paris Saint-Germain and Borussia Dortmund, Germany, to be held on the 11th of this month.
Perhaps the match will take place without the fans attending, according to French Sports Minister Roxana Marcinino, but that is certainly too early. The minister added that the match will be held in all cases "unless the instructions change."
France banned all events involving more than five thousand fans last weekend due to the Corona virus.