The Minister of Sports, Roxana Maracineanu announced this Tuesday noon to have tested positive for Covid-19.
She is therefore forced to cancel her trip to Beijing, scheduled for February 11 to 15, for the Winter Olympics.
“I tested positive for Covid as part of the mandatory protocol before leaving for the Winter Olympics, specifies the minister.
I have a heavy heart not being able to go and support our athletes and tell them of our consideration.
My thoughts are with them.
I continue my missions remotely.
»
This Monday, on the set of RMC, the former swimming champion had confirmed her trip to China.
After skipping the opening ceremony, she said it was "clearly not a boycott": "We are in dialogue, we want to affirm France's positions on all subjects vis-à-vis China.
For my part, I will go a few days to support our athletes.
I went to Tokyo to support our summer athletes and my place is with them for the winter athletes.
»
🎙 "There is no diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Olympics. I will go without hesitation".
Roxana Maracineanu, Minister in charge of Sports.
#ApollineMatin pic.twitter.com/X4BWCpmsB0
— RMC (@RMCinfo) February 7, 2022
The Minister is not the only personality from the sports world to find herself in this situation.
Tony Estanguet, chairman of the organizing committee for the 2024 Olympics, had to cancel his trip after also testing positive for Covid-19 at the end of January.
France won its first gold medal on Tuesday through Quentin Fillon Maillet in the individual 20 km in biathlon.
During the night, Tess Ledeux had taken the big air silver in freestyle skiing.
All disciplines combined, the Blues are now at five medals (one in gold, four in silver).