The 2020 edition of the Mondial La Marseillaise à pétanque takes place from August 30 to September 2. It is one of the biggest sporting events allowed in the south of France this year, despite the coronavirus. 2,500 players are registered and will have to respect strict health protocol.

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After the start of the Tour de France on Saturday in Nice, another major sporting event is taking place in the South of France: the Mondial La Marseillaise à pétanque, which is due to start on Sunday. 2,500 players have registered and 12 nations are represented.

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"Footballers don't play masked, so why would we play pétanque with them?"

To comply with health instructions, the organization of the tournament has been adapted. There will be no more than 5,000 people and they will be spread over 25 sites in the city, in order to avoid too much concentration of players in the same place at the same time. The mask should also be worn, but not during matches. "As soon as you start the game, you can remove your mask, because you are in a sport. As soon as the game is over, you put it back on," said Pierre Guille, president of the Mondial La Marseillaise à pétanque, at the microphone. 'Europe 1. "Football players do not play with a mask, so why would we play pétanque with it? I remind you that it is a sport!", He continues.

The holding of the 59th edition of the World Cup is also a breath of fresh air for the local economy, since the tournament represents each year 16 million euros in economic benefits, even if they will be less this year.