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France introduces vaccine pass for foreign sports stars

France has recently introduced strict rules that will impact professional athletes visiting the country to compete in sports events. French lawmakers have agreed that a new vaccine pass will replace the previous Covid ‘health pass’, meaning that only vaccinated people, and those who have recently recovered from Covid, will be permitted to enter various facilities, including sports stadiums and leisure venues.

New rules for French and foreign athletes

French Sports Minister Roxana Maracineanu has confirmed the new rules will apply to both French and foreign sports professionals, as well as spectators and workers. The news comes just weeks before the start of the Six Nations rugby tournament, due to take place between February 5th and March 19th, at the Stade de France, near Paris. It also follows much publicized recent issues in Australia surrounding Novak Djokovic’s participation in the Australian Open.

The tennis player was originally granted a medical exemption to enter Australia and defend his title, despite his unvaccinated status. However, the decision was overruled by an Australian court and Djokovic’s visa was cancelled. It has emerged, however, that the tennis star was granted an exemption from vaccination rules due to having recently recovered from Covid, so the French authorities will need to put clear guidelines in place regarding the specifics for how a recent recovery will grant athletes a vaccination exemption.

French travel restrictions have always been tight

Since the beginning of the pandemic, France has imposed various restrictions on foreigners entering the country. Although unvaccinated travelers from some countries have been allowed to enter, they have been subject to various conditions. All travelers from outside the EU must show evidence of a negative test, regardless of vaccination status. Travelers from some countries are also asked to provide a valid reason for their visit and are subject to a 10-day quarantine.

The experience of Djokovic in Australia will no doubt mean that athletes and managers will be keen to comply with national restrictions when travelling to international events. The French Tennis Federation has claimed to be working with authorities to clarify rules around unvaccinated foreign athletes, but Maracineanu’s comments imply that there will be little room for exceptions. The main point for clarification seems to be around the exact length of time French authorities will accept as a ‘recent’ recovery from Covid.

How will this impact the Six Nations?

A representative from the Italian Rugby Federation has stated that players were selected to compete in the Six Nations tournament in January, and that they are all “vaccinated and/or Covid-19 healed in the last few months”. However, the cancelling of Djokovic’s visa happened despite a documented recovery from Covid just one month before the tournament. Subject to clarification from French authorities, rugby players who have recovered from Covid in the last few months may still need a vaccination ahead of their matches in France which will take place in February and March.

Vaccine mandates have been at the center of protests in France, as in many other countries, but over 76% of the population are fully vaccinated, and French lawmakers seem determined to continue to impose restrictions on unvaccinated travelers entering the country.

Kirk is a lifelong follower of all motorsports, particularly Formula 1, Nascar and WRC. When not found at the side of the circuit, eyes stinging from the burnt rubber, he also covers tennis, eSports and other categories for us.

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