Bernard Giudicelli wants to keep sport outdoors

While the hypothesis of a new confinement measure is looming sharply, I would like to share with you our deepest concern about the impact of such a decision on the psycho-social situation of our sports audiences, volunteers. and employees.

As has been recalled on many occasions by the High Council of Public Health and by the scientific community, the regular practice of a sporting activity is both a factor in strengthening immunity and reducing the risk of psychological distress. .

In the same vein as the federations of golf, sailing, horse riding, fishing and hunting, the French Tennis Federation pleads in favor of maintaining the possibility of practicing outdoor sport, throughout the period. that opens.

A desire to open the establishments covered

In addition, and in view of the winter weather conditions, the FFT asks for your full support to also allow sports practice in covered establishments offering large spaces and having an adequate ventilation system. Our request applies strictly to "individual" sports disciplines, the educational and logistical conditions of which very easily allow the respect of distance, barrier gestures and the non mixing of populations.

In the case of tennis and its associated disciplines, I would remind you that our courts and indoor courts in fact measure between 200 m² (land of padel) and 650m² (tennis courts) and accommodate a maximum of 7 people, teacher included, i.e. an available space per person of 50 m² (if 4 people maximum in padel) to 216 m² (if 2 practitioners present with 1 teacher).

The ventilation system of the covered buildings, whose dimensions offer an available space of 5 m832 per court, i.e. between 3 and 2916 m833 available per person, allows an average air renewal rate of at least 3 m100 per hour and per active (in the case of a group lesson with 3 participants and 6 teacher), which is four times higher than the reference rate mentioned in the protocol of the Ministère des Sports for the activities of minors previously in force.

As you know, we are perfectly prepared to ensure a responsible practice of these activities on the basis of a specific health protocol and, if necessary, to adjust the modalities of play as we have already experienced and demonstrated. last spring.

Strengthened by the exemplary nature of our clubs and our practitioners, and strengthened by the specificity of our individual disciplines and our outdoor and indoor facilities, we are collectively convinced that such tolerance will greatly contribute to strengthening acceptability and effectiveness. any new general restrictions.

In compliance with these conditions, sport can provide solutions.

Know that you can count on us to devote ourselves to this without reserve.