It is certain, the vaccine pass which must come into force in January if the Parliament votes on it, will apply to professional athletes who play in France. A principle stated at the end of December by the Minister of Sports, Roxana Maracineanu. Concretely, only vaccinated people will be able to access a stadium, a room or a training center once the device is in place. But the principle should know some exceptions.
According to our information, this vaccination pass will not be required for certain international sporting events, provided that they set up a strict health bubble. Typical example, that of the tennis tournament of Roland-Garros. Players would not be required to arrive in Paris with a full vaccination schedule, as long as they are content to commute between the courts and their hotel. A principle that would allow world number one Novak Djokovic, who benefited from an exemption to go to Melbourne to play the Australian Open, to line up on the clay courts of Porte d’Auteuil without being forced to pass by the puncture box.
European Cup matches in different disciplines, such as the Champions League in football, will also benefit from this exception, again only if the visiting teams move within a health bubble. A possibility set up to facilitate the arrival of clubs from countries with different vaccination policies.
But beware, this would not allow professional athletes who live year round in France to rush into this breach to avoid getting vaccinated. If, for example, Ligue 1 and the Top 14 are subject to health protocols, these do not have bubble value insofar as they do not restrict the movements of their players on a daily basis.