It is 2023. We are three years removed from the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and have abounding knowledge on how to cope with the disease. And yet, for some inexplicable reason, major sporting events are still acting like people still need to be afraid of the coronavirus.
According to Reuters, the organizers of the Tour de France are taking extreme measures to prevent COVID cases from popping up during the tournament, which begins July 1. Riders and team staff will not be allowed to sign autographs for fans, and journalists and cyclists must wear masks whenever they interact with each other. Fortunately, the cyclists won’t have to wear a mask while riding their bikes.
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"For all the team members: Respect a confinement - Limit the interactions outside the race bubble. No eating out. Respect social distancing at the hotel," a chart at one of the hotels for the riders reads.
The uproar over the COVID situation comes after a cyclist contracted COVID last month at an Italian cycling event. But does that mean these measures are justified?
France has reported just over 3,000 cases of COVID-19 in the country, which is 22,000 fewer than those reported this time last year. At some point, each country and sports governing body needs to accept that the disease is under control and, despite our best efforts, it cannot be perfectly contained.
Leave it to the French to not get that memo.
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