Even though limited, will crowds return to stadiums before the summer 2021? This Thursday April 29, 2021, French President Emmanuel Macron has detailed the calendar to make crowds return to stadiums and arenas. The lockdown exit plan revolves around four different steps, covering May 3 to June 30.
Lockdown exit: Emmanuel Macron’s four-step plan
How is the government’s lockdown exit plan? While we are waiting for Emmanuel Macron’s statements expected in the regional press, here is what seems to be planned according to information revealed this Thursday April 29, 2021. [Read more]
With June 30th just around the corner, here is the last step of the calendar. As of Wednesday June 30, audience limits are off and now adapted to the kind of event and the local health situation. Therefore, gauge limits are no longer valid in all places open to the public. The only limit still valid applies to open-air sport competitions for amateur athletes that can be held in front of maximum 2,500 people.
The government insists on the importance of complying with health restrictions and social distancing. The French can also access any event gathering over 1,000 people outside and inside, still subject to a health pass.
During the second step of the lockdown exit scheduled from May 19, 2021, open air and indoor sporting facilities reopened to the public. A reception gauge is to be respected, limited to 800 spectators indoors, and up to 1,000 people outdoors. Furthermore, the resume of sporting activities in open-air and outdoor places took place with fitted health protocols.
Then, starting from June 9, sports facilities, stadiums and more have been able to receive up to 5,000 people. This reopening and reception gauge still depended on a health pass.
Therefore, for major sporting events sucb as French Open 2021, the soccer French Cup finale, Euro preparation games at the Stade de France - scheduled from mid-May - the government is thinking about the conditions to allow a limited reception capacity at least 800 people indoor, and up to 1,000 people outdoor.
Of course, this scenario still depends on the evolution of the Covid-19 epidemic health situation in France. On that matter, Sport minister Roxana Maracineanu suggested this Sunday April 25, 2021 that it was necessary to remain cautious. "Crowds to return to stadium? This is more a second or event third lockdown-exit step", she told BeIN Sports. "Priority is to enable young people and adults return to covered facilities. We want to progressively return to normal things, to prevent from closing again", the former swimmer added.
