The Philippe Chatrier court at Roland-Garros. – Alessandra Tarantino / AP / SIPA
There will be many spectators admitted to Roland-Garros, but within a double limit of 1,000 per court and one-third of capacity, Minister of Education and Sports Jean-Michel Blanquer confirmed on Sunday evening. This Grand Slam tennis tournament has already been postponed by one week by the organizers (May 30-June 13).
As part of the progressive deconfinement decided by the government, “the gauge is that of 35%” of the capacity of the stadiums, “with a maximum of 1,000 people”, “per court”, detailed Jean-Michel Blanquer in the program Stage 2 on France 3.
Curfews and finals
However, the minister did not specify whether the gauge would change, especially for the finals, from June 9. Indeed, on that date, in stadiums in France, “we go to 65% with a ceiling of 5,000” people, “so we will start to have stadiums honorably filled,” he said.
Another question for Roland-Garros: will the night-time matches be played behind closed doors due to the curfew? “Are we able to set up a supporting system (for the spectators), that’s one of the things that is being discussed” with the organizers, he said.
Jean-Michel Blanquer has not ruled out changes to these rules “depending on what we see about the crisis” and its evolution. He also praised the merits of a “health pass” (negative test or vaccination certificate): presenting it “may be the condition to be able to enter the stadiums”.