It is a cry from the heart but also and above all "a cry of alarm" warns Jean-Pierre Siutat, president of the French Basketball Federation.
That of the last chance for many amateur sports clubs in France who risk seeing the curtain finally lowered because of the new restrictions and the economic consequences it causes in associations.
The French Fencing Federation associates itself with the open letter sent yesterday to the President of the Republic by the French Sports Movement ➡ https://t.co/UnEBgBgHpx https://t.co/FBiLftCAVj
- French Fencing Federation (@ffescrime) October 27, 2020
Monday evening under the pen of Denis Masséglia, president of the French National Olympic and Sports Committee (CNOSF), 95 sports federations sent "an SOS" to President Emmanuel Macron.
All the so-called “Olympic” federations signed this letter.
Only those directly managed by state services, such as the UNSS, abstained.
Through this letter, the presidents of these bodies demand more “consideration” for the volunteers who support the clubs and ask for financial aid to save the amateur world.
"With more than three million volunteers (
Editor's note: distributed in 170,000 clubs
), we are the first associative movement in the country, yet there is no recognition, says Denis Masséglia.
We have the Olympic Games in 2024 in Paris, we should be considered a social project but this is not the case.
If we do nothing, clubs and sports will disappear.
We can't accept that.
"
"We are going to sacrifice a generation of young people"
For Didier Séminet, president of the Baseball Federation for 10 years, “amateur sport is swept away in 30 seconds during government meetings”.
“We see the Minister of Culture on many TV shows who reassures and acts for her sector, I do not see the same investment on the part of the Ministry of Sports, continues the person concerned.
We have received assistance for partial unemployment, but most clubs operate with volunteers, not with employees.
These aids do not make up for the loss of revenue linked to ticketing or consumption during matches.
We only live with members.
"Contacted, the Ministry of Sports informed us that Roxana Maracineanu will speak after Emmanuel Macron's speech, this Wednesday at 8 pm.
The concern is that, since the resumption of activities, the fall in licenses is estimated between 20 and 30% depending on the federations.
"There are 136,000 licensees, or 9,000 less compared to last year on the same date," indicates Eric Tanguy, president of the Volleyball Federation.
But if the situation continues for months on end, I don't know how many we will lose… ”
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Across the country, volunteers are becoming discouraged in the face of the many and necessary health measures, but above all in the face of a very uncertain future.
“Since the start of this terrible health crisis, we have been in combat, we are good soldiers, each time we adapt and we respect all health measures, affirms Siutat.
The clubs managed to wrap up last season as best they could but the one that starts is likely to be fatal to many.
If we cannot resume the season, we will sacrifice a generation of young people and we are not sure of finding our clubs.
We need a real backup plan for the federations.
We know that the situation will get worse.
"
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The forthcoming announcement of a tightening of health measures to stem the worsening of the situation may indeed be the coup de grace.
“Professional sport has exemptions for playing, not amateur sport, continues Séminet.
However, that would be a way to maintain activity and save the situation.
"
