"A cry of alarm and from the heart."
This is how the representatives of indoor sports federations presented the state of a sector undermined by the Covid-19 pandemic, this Wednesday at the headquarters of the CNOSF.
Stopped since the last confinement, at the end of October - with the slight exception of the month when minors were authorized to practice between December 15 and January 15 -, amateur sport, which brings together 2.2 million licensees spread over some 27,000 clubs across the country are at a standstill.
"We do not see the end of the tunnel, summarizes Denis Masseglia, president of the CNOSF, present for the occasion.
A common story for the 13 federations invited to this press conference initiated by the BHV (Basketball, Handball, Volley).
Erosion of the number of redundants
In question, a prolonged stop and a lack of visibility which stretch over time.
As a result, licenses are not renewed, while a new audience cannot be retained, let alone attracted.
Even who can turn to outdoor sports: "We are seeing a shift towards outdoor sports", notes Philippe Bana, new president of the French Handball Federation.
"We need the State to save the sports soldier"
Stephane Nomis
The fall in the number of members is severe and spares no one (between -15% and -57% of licensees depending on the federations).
“We took an uppercut”, image André Martin, who knows what he is talking about, he the president of the French Boxing Federation.
Combat sports are also the most impacted, with a drop of over 50% for boxing, kick boxing, karate and wrestling.
For its part, the FFJudo cashed an astronomical drop of over 180,000 licensees, hardly mitigated by its proportional value (-37%).
“French judo is in a very precarious situation,” explains Stéphane Nomis, who succeeded Jean-Luc Rougé last November at the head of a federation in debt to the tune of several million euros.
"Today, we are in survival mode, we appeal to the State to save us even if we do the best we can to help each other, continues the former judoka.
We need the State to save the sports soldier. ”
We took part in the conf.
common press of the indoor sports federations to warn about the crisis they are going through because of COVID 19. Our Pdt, Stéphane NOMIS, intervened "The FFJUDO is in great precariousness" "that the State comes to save the sports soldier ! "
pic.twitter.com/CFivfKtAfd
- FF Judo (@ffjudo_officiel) February 25, 2021
Discouragement of volunteers
The main source of income for many federations, licenses are the source of a financial loss of between 18 and 40% of the budget depending on the indoor sports.
And the finances of amateur clubs inevitably suffer.
While "a large number of licensees no longer want to resume, as if they had lost the desire, lost the passion", as described by Eric Tanguy, boss of French volleyball, the implementation of the "pass'sport" , financial aid for the licensing introduced in 2021 by the State (an envelope of 100 million euros has been released), could give a boost to the return of the practices.
The clubs gathered this Wednesday, which also ask for a “tax exemption for licenses” for the current season, are calling for “immediate visibility” and entry into force in June for this passport, in order to better prepare for next season.
Because the latter must, at the same time, face the discouragement of their volunteers, cornerstones of the sustainability of associations.
“The cry of alarm also concerns the volunteers, who are no longer there, some are ready to throw in the towel,” says Yohan Penel, head of the badminton federation.
All the educators are at a standstill and cannot plan on their future. ”
This discouragement of volunteers, specific to all the sports present, is "very worrying", remarks Eric Tanguy.
"We can find licensees, but not necessarily volunteers," he says.
"A return of practitioners as soon as possible"
This "cry of alarm", repeated at will by each of the stakeholders in a world about which "we have not spoken since September", as Céline Mothes, secretary general of the ice sports federation underlines, aims to challenge the State, considered inactive on the question of amateur sport.
Skeptical about the resumption of activity beyond the current season, the federations fear a “new white year.”
"A return of practitioners as soon as possible (especially young people)" was put forward among the requests formulated to the State, which will be transmitted verbally by Jean-Pierre Siutat, head of French basketball, invited to the Elysee Palace this Monday to discuss it.
On the financial level, indoor sports ask the State to set up a direct support fund while providing "significant support to provide clubs with sports masks."
Regarding the development of the future essential sports masks, Denis Masseglia praised a "huge work to develop the criteria to have a standardization", while recalling that it will be necessary to wait for the necessary experiments which may, in the long term, " allow restart. "
And the end of the tunnel?
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