Diderot’s Fitness Park room, in Paris. – Alexis Orsini
- The big day has finally arrived: after eight months of closure, the sports halls have reopened their doors to all audiences on June 9.
- However, they remain subject to a strict gauge and compliance with certain physical distancing measures.
- 20 minutes went to a climbing room and a Parisian sports hall, to meet sportsmen and women who came from the opening.
“We opened the room at 6 am, and by 8 am, there were 60 people! It’s encouraging, it shows that people know how essential sport is in order to stay in shape. “This Wednesday, June 9, for this long-awaited new stage of deconfinement, the relief of Sonny Gradel, head of Fitness Park Diderot, in the 12th arrondissement of Paris, is palpable.
After months of closure to stem the coronavirus epidemic, the rowers, treadmills and other dumbbells at his establishment are once again accessible to the public. And more and more athletes, in this mid-morning, are hurrying within this temple of sweat and effort.
Like Mohamed, 38, a regular, who has just completed a particularly intense abs session: “I absolutely wanted to be there for the reopening, so I came just after dropping my son off at the school. Sport is a vital need, my body wanted to resume. I plan to return at the same pace as before, but by going moderately at first to avoid injuring myself. “
“Alone, even with good equipment, you lose motivation”
For Sonny Gradel, the stake of this reopening is twofold: “Before the confinement, there were about 200 to 300 passages per day, but we lost a certain number of members because of the closure. Today, we hope first of all to return to the frequentation of before, then to do even better, for example by welcoming people whose room has closed permanently. “
If the Diderot Fitness Park is not among the 300 sports halls having filed for bankruptcy in recent months, it remains for the moment subject to certain health restrictions, which prevent any recovery equivalent to the pre-crisis: QR code to be scanned at the entrance to be warned in case of contamination, hydroalcoholic gel arranged in strategic places, rowers condemned to ensure social distancing, wearing of the obligatory mask when traveling… The current 50% gauge also limits the reception, within these 2,000 square meters, to 140 people maximum, against 280 in normal times.
“It was important to come back as soon as possible”
Not enough to weaken the enthusiasm of assiduous athletes. “What I have missed the most in recent months is the social bond, the fact of being able to discuss our different disciplines. Alone, even with good equipment, you lose motivation, ”explains Christophe, 51, who until now was among the people authorized to attend the room before it reopened to all audiences. “Today, people rediscover moments of conviviality by going for a drink in bars. Us, it’s the same thing: we recreate the link in the room! », Continues the former soldier.
“It was important to come back as soon as possible,” says 23-year-old Anna. Physical activity in an apartment is complicated in Paris. Especially since as a student, I was already taking my courses there at a distance. It really feels good to do sport again in a dedicated place, and to rediscover the spirit of mutual aid among the people in the room. “
Questions and concerns about health measures
A few metro stops further on, in Chevaleret, in the 13th arrondissement, the Vertical’Art climbing gym hopes to attract a public loyal to this spirit of sharing, on the occasion of a most unique inauguration. “Originally, we were supposed to open in December, but with the containment, we had to wait until today. The main difference with a classic opening is that we are asked questions about the reception gauge, the distance… This is part of the apprehensions of some ”, explains Jules Delourme, communication and marketing manager of the Vertical’Art group. .
The residents of the neighborhood did not wait until the end of the day to start climbing the 1,000 square meters of climbing walls with colorful grips. “Usually, I would climb in Saint-Ouen, but it’s really far away so I was impatiently awaiting the opening of this room. It’s clean, new and, for now, it’s not crowded, so I plan to come back. Fortunately, I didn’t lose too much in level! », Rejoices Sonia, in her forties, between two climbs. The same goes for Manu, used to a venue in Rungis and come to Vertical’Art as a “scout” for his group of friends keen on the discipline.
Objective: relieve congestion on the most popular schedules
In addition to the QR code provided at the entrance, the room requires the wearing of a mask when traveling on the mats bordering the climbing walls. “To relieve congestion on the most popular schedules, we have also set up a system of ‘happy hour’ during the day. The whole team is ready to ensure that the distances between climbers are respected at peak times, because they naturally tend to forget them once launched, ”confides Jules Delourme.
A vigilance that will remain in place on June 30, at the next crucial stage of deconfinement, which will mark the end of attendance gauges in sports halls – if the health situation allows it.