The sentence fell on Friday.
It will be 1000 spectators and no more per day in the enclosure of the Porte d'Auteuil.
A gauge far from the initial ambitions of the organizers ... "The 5,000 spectators in the stadium were already, in our eyes, a minimum gauge, regretted Friday the president of the FFT.
However, the government authorities decided otherwise and we can only regret this new constraint. ”
Epilogue of an agitated preparation which will have marked the spring and the beginning of autumn of French tennis.
How did the idea to postpone Roland-Garros in the fall come about?
“From the start of the health crisis, we created a monitoring unit and a crisis unit.
Among the options, it was felt that the repositioning of the tournament in the second half of the year was the only one that could preserve the health of the players and the smooth running of the tournament.
We made this decision the day before confinement (March 17) by giving ourselves a chance to save the 2020 edition. It was impossible for us that there would be no Roland-Garros in 2020. It is the lungs of the Federation, which allows us, among other things, to continue investing in clubs.
It was the social and economic vitality of French tennis that was called into question.
We behaved as a good father and responsible leaders.
What we will remember is resilience on the one hand, and responsibility on the other.
We weren't trained to deal with a pandemic.
From the start, we have explored a crisis of unprecedented magnitude. ”
Many players on the circuit were offended not to have been made aware of your decision…
“We understood very early on that the calendar in its initial state no longer existed.
We had a meeting with our general manager (Jean-François Vilotte) and I made the final decision.
It was then communicated to ATP and WTA, and then to other Grand Slam tournaments.
We assumed that this decision could raise criticism.
Time has proven us right.
It is around Roland-Garros that the calendar has been reorganized. ”
“The camera was used a bit like a scarecrow. But it was an unthinkable option. ”
Bernard Giudicelli
The gauge kept dropping. We are ultimately not very far from the closed session that you had banned…
“The closed session was used a bit like a scarecrow.
But it was an unthinkable option.
The fundamental of a tennis tournament is a player and the audience.
With a very small audience, we can estimate a reduction of more than 50% of our products.
It's a shortfall, that's for sure.
But the most important thing is that the major players in the ecosystem have always supported us.
The partners are there and have remained faithful.
The tournament will be broadcast in 222 countries. All draws will be played except the Tournament of Legends.
The prize money corresponds to 90% of what we distributed in 2019. We increased it by 30% for the qualifications and the first rounds to help these players who particularly suffer from having been deprived of the game for 5 month.
It is our role as a major tournament to allow all the populations of the tournament (coaches, referees, physiotherapists, etc.) to live and continue their profession. ”
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Roland-Garros:" The gauge is 1000 ", confirms Jean Castex
The USTA, the American Federation, laid off 110 employees last June. Could the FFT also downsize in the coming months?
“The Federation is an association.
We do not distribute dividends.
Our margins are fully deployed in favor of tennis in the territories.
We had the lucidity to take out a loan (with the main partner BNP Paribas).
We have created a stimulus fund of 35 million including 21 for clubs for the year 2021. We are not a company like the others.
We build social ties and a balance throughout the territory. ”
How can we qualify this particular Roland-Garros?
“With this procession of tragedies that touched us, we will celebrate it with sobriety.
The 100th anniversary of the Federation will be marked by this exceptional crisis, and, perhaps, those who will succeed us one day will say to themselves that we have been able to face it.
It will be the biggest recognition we can hope for.
Sport must take back its rights and the emotions that the players will give us will be such as to give us a happy anniversary. ”
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Roland-Garros 2020: Calendar