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The Geneva-Plage puzzle before the opening

Covid-19

Genève-Plage will open its doors on Wednesday June 10, with strict sanitary measures.

Genève-Plage, an emblematic place in Geneva’s summers, which can accommodate up to 8,000 people per day in normal times, will have to limit entries to 1,000 users at a time due to the pandemic.

“We will never be completely ready because we never had to face such a situation,” explains Christian Marchi, director of Genève-Plage. “There is no point in putting a multitude of protocols in place: you have to try and adapt,” adds M.Marchi.

Genève-Plage generally welcomes between 3,500 and 5,000 people per day and up to 8,000 during peak periods. The measures imposed to combat the Covid-19 provide for 10 m2 per user. With a surface area of ​​more than 10,000 m2, Genève-Plage can accommodate 1,000 people at a time.

Suffice to say that the frustration is likely to be great. The director of Genève-Plage, who initially wanted to apply the principle first come first served, finally opted for a system of time slots to satisfy the greatest number. The first period will run from opening until 2:30 p.m. and the second from 3:00 p.m. to closing.

Different audiences

Typically, families with small children as well as the elderly come in the morning, while the afternoon attracts young people. Sports swimmers are taking advantage of the lunch break. The system of time bands thus makes it possible to channel the various public, explains M.Marchi.

The number of people in the enclosure will be updated on the website to allow everyone to decide whether to come try their luck or not. Tickets will be sold online – maximum 500 – for the afternoon portion two days in advance. The price of tickets has been lowered.

The large 2000 m2 pool will accommodate around 180 bathers at the same time. The swimming lines are limited to eight athletes. The paddling pool will be open as well as the diving board on the lake. However, the large slide and the children’s games will remain closed.

Search for vaubans

About ten days before opening, the infrastructure is not yet visibly in coronavirus mode. The vaubans to channel the flows are ordered, but with the recovery, this type of material becomes complicated to find, notes the director of Genève-Plage. As in all public places, markings are provided on the ground.

Part of the changing rooms will be closed. Only the open spaces will be open. The lockers will be condemned. “We encourage users to come already changed,” adds M.Marchi. Small lockers for valuables will however remain accessible.

In RHT

The losses for Genève-Plage are not yet quantified, but the revenues linked to the various equipment and space rentals are in free fall. The good exercises carried out in previous years make it possible to secure cash, according to the director general.

Employees hired for the initial opening of the swimming pool, which was set for May 16, benefit from partial unemployment measures. There are no plans to extend the season ending September 20. Note that Genève-Plage should be the first public pool to reopen in Geneva, the others betting on Saturday June 20.

((ATS / NXP)

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