Since Saturday, September 26, sports halls, gymnasiums and multipurpose halls have closed their doors for at least two weeks. So who is really affected and where can we now practice physical activity? We tell you everything!
With the worsening health situation in France, Olivier Véran, the Minister of Solidarity and Health, had to take measures by closing sports venues in the areas most at risk to limit cases of contact. "These are confined spaces where wearing a mask is impossible or even at least complex and which are unfortunately places of significant contamination.», He indicated.
Only 3 months and 21 days elapsed between the reopening of the sports venues on June 2 and the measures announced by Olivier Véran. As the number of cases increased, restrictions were to be expected, but the news sent shock waves all the same.
Several large cities in France are concerned such as Paris and its inner suburbs (Hauts-de-Seine, Seine – Saint-Denis, Val-de-Marne), Bordeaux, Lille, Lyon or Toulouse or the Aix-Marseille metropolis where the alert zone is at the maximum level. The department of Guadeloupe is also affected.
Map of the different alert levels according to the department
If you live in one of the departments in red and burgundy, you will have to change your sports habits (for a while).
Where are you allowed to play sports?
Of course, you can practice a sports activity at home, but if you want to exercise outside, there are plenty of possibilities:
- Stadiums (limit set at 5000 people maximum)
- Natural spaces such as forests, natural parks, gardens, beaches, near the lake or a body of water
- Indoor or outdoor swimming pools
- Racetracks (limit set at 5,000 people maximum)
Be careful to find out about the health protocols in place in the place that interests you. Even if your regular gym is in a pink alert zone, it may still have closed.
What is the health protocol for sports practices?
- Wearing a mask is compulsory when you are moving around, but you can remove it when you exercise.
- Barrier gestures must always be applied (hand washing, distance of one meter when possible …).
- Gatherings of more than 10 people cannot be allowed unless there is a prefectural agreement.
- Depending on the sport you practice, social distancing varies: 2 meters between participants in a dynamic activity (tennis, yoga, fitness, etc.), 10 meters for intense sports such as running or cycling and 5 meters for exercise. moderate intensity physical exercise.