Coronavirus: are we heading towards a very busy sports autumn?

Text by: Farid Achache Follow

World sport, which has been shutdown since March due to the new coronavirus pandemic, has postponed several competitions to the fall, which promises to be very busy in addition to the usual team sports championships.

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Stopped since March, the sport should gradually regain its place. From the end of summer, if the virus does not come back in force in Europe, the sporting events should be linked. Not to mention the rest of the world, which is also active in the resumption of sports competitions.

Tour de France, Tour of Italy and Tour of Spain concentrated

The example of cycling speaks volumes. The Spanish Tour will count six days in common with the Tour of Italy, according to the new cycling calendar published this Tuesday by the International Cycling Union. And There will not even be two weeks of respite for riders who would like to compete in the Tour of Italy after the Tour de France (August 29-September 20).

In Belgium, the resumption of sports competitions with the public is planned after the summer holidays. The government announced on Wednesday May 6 the suspension of all sports competitions in the country until July 31, paving the way for a permanent end to the football season as desired by the majority of professional clubs. But everything should be back to normal as soon as school starts. According to the Belgian press, the Flemish Minister for Sport, Ben Weyts (N-VA), is working on a plan to make mass sporting events possible again from September 1.

Public in football stadiums ?

Germany is the first major championship to have acted, Wednesday, May 6, the resumption of football in May behind closed doors, like Portugal, Turkey or Serbia, and on the contrary of France and the Netherlands, which stopped their season. From the start of the school year, will the public be welcome at the stadium?

In tennis, Roland-Garros, initially rescheduled from September 20 to October 4, should be the third Grand Slam after the US Open, scheduled from August 31 to September 13. Only the Australian Open was held in January this season. “  You have to take into account that this is a very special year and that if we are lucky enough to be able to play two Grand Slams in addition to the Australian Open and some Premier Mandatory tournaments [the level just below the Grand Slams on the female circuit, note], it will already be a great success for the circuit, for the public and for the players,  "said Frenchwoman Caroline Garcia who made Roland-Garros a big goal.

"  Resumption of sport is essential for life to resume  "

Athletes who practice combat sports  are not currently allowed to resume their regular training. However, the European judo championships are scheduled from November 8 to 10 in Prague, Czech Republic.

“  Among all the challenges facing our society, obviously the resumption of sport is a major subject. I have been working on it daily for weeks, but health remains the priority,  "declared the Minister of Sports in France in a series of tweets. "  Resume sport, events, open clubs, start the sector as quickly and as best as possible is my concern,  " says Roxana Maracineanu. The former swimmer adds: “  Resumption of sport is essential for life to resume, but let's remain lucid and patient.  "

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