France Blue : Denis Agostini, the organizers of the Open de Tennis de Caen are now clearly asking themselves the question of whether or not the Tournament will be maintained.
Denis Agostini : Absolutely. Due to a second wave coming. We must indeed be sure that the event can be valid and correct in December with enormous arrangements in terms of health. We will indeed make a decision within fifteen days – three weeks to know if we will maintain this event.
FB : What are the difficulties you are encountering?
D.A : It is an event in an enclosed space, the Zénith. It is not known if the 5,000-person spectator gauge will still be allowed. The important element also concerns the players. We saw at the US Open that the conditions were very strict for the passages. But in the Zenith, we are a little cloistered. So it’s a whole system of entry, exit, distance that we will have to respect and it is very problematic today at the Zénith. And then, once again, depending on data from the Regional Health Agency or the Prefect, events like the Open de Tennis de Caen are feasible but will they be or not in a month or two? We are following this pandemic, which is gradually returning, day to day. This is less the case in Normandy but you never know.
It is not known if the 5,000-person spectator gauge will still be allowed. The important element also concerns the players
FB : You are all the more sensitive to this question as you are a cardiologist at the CHU de Caen.
D.A : It is indeed the hat of the doctor which makes that we will make this event if and only if all the sanitary conditions are identified at the same time for the players, the spectators, all the staff of the Tennis Club of Caen and the volunteers. All of this must be well weighed so that we can either give a yes or a no.
It’s a whole system of entry, exit, distance that we will have to respect and it is very problematic today at the Zénith
FB : The Caen Tennis Open is a big throwing machine. It doesn’t happen overnight. You’ve been working on the event for a year, but today a lot of things are pending?
D.A : We started in January. Then there was a cutout linked to the coronavirus and we restarted when we came out of confinement. It’s contacting people, it’s convincing the partners to stay on the event so yes it’s a big job.
What was done in 2019 cannot be done in 2020 in the same way. That’s clear. Whether for entertainment for young people, for setting up cocktails with our partners. It means supplementary budgets. And in the same way, for the players it is to be absolutely certain that they are not anxious.
All these elements, when you put them together, mean that it shouldn’t be a risky Open. It has to be a well thought out Open. This is why we are thinking about it to be sure to give the right decision in the next two or three weeks.
We have to think about all its factors to make a decision in the coming days on the Open de Caen.
FB : You will not be doing this Caen Tennis Open at all costs in the sense that there is a budget, there is the image of the tournament and there is public health?
D.A : I will say that it is the last word that prevails. It is everyone’s health. It is clear that if there is the slightest risk or if we are not able to carry out the event in good sanitary conditions, we will not do it.
FB : And you also have to make sure that there will be a sufficient field of players and a sufficient number of spectators to ensure the financial viability of the event?
D.A : Absolutely. It is an important element for the ticket office (14,000 to 15,000 spectators over four days), for the show. We have to think about all its factors to make a decision in the coming days on the Open de Caen.
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