Dear WFCS members,
As usual, we would like to inform you about the recent news and updates of our future World Company Sport Games in Athens from June 16th to 21st, 2021. A few days ago, you received the newsletter from the Greek organising committee which dealt in particular with the issue of the health protocol.
We draw your attention to this protocol validated by the Greek government authorities. Our own services noted that this protocol was serious and in perfect coherence with health protocols currently in force in several WFCS member countries.
We have just had several meetings with the local Organizing Committee. As we have already been able to indicate during our last official communication on February 5th, our Greek friends confirm that the Games are still on. We have the will and the ambition to organise them next June.
Since the beginning of the health crisis, the safety of participants, the quality of the event and compliance with the instructions of local, national and international authorities have been our priorities. We are fully aware of the uncertainty that weighs on all of our activities, the current difficulties, particularly related to the development of the various variants or the delays in vaccinations.
At this time, without denying the problems, our duty is to remain hopeful and to offer you a course and direction. The Games will take place in 3 months, we hear your wish to play sports, as many have been unable to do so for a year.
We take this opportunity to greet and thank our clubs and companies for their strong support. We only received a few cancellation requests. You mainly want to go back to sports fields and enjoy this great sport, touristic and friendly moment.
For all these reasons, we are continuing our efforts and remain vigilant because, here and there, we observe difficulties. Our Greek friends are on the move to organise these Games under the best possible conditions.
Please find below the health protocol, validated by the Greek authorities and in particular by the General Secretariat for Sports.
•English: https://www.athens2020.org/wcsg2021/hygiene-protocol
•French: https://www.athens2020.org/fr/wcsg2021/protocole-sanitaire
•German: https://www.athens2020.org/de/wcsg2021/hygieneregelungen
This specific and rigorous protocol will evolve depending on the COVID crisis evolution. In addition, the full support of the Greek national authorities is clear: among the first positive initiatives, the decision of the Greek government to welcome international tourists from May 14th is encouraging (see the article).
This allows us to reasonably hope for the safe reception of participants in Athens.We also confirm the extension of the registration deadline to May 10th, in order for participants to have time to adequately plan their trip to Greece.
We are also counting on you to relay this message to your participants, to inform them in complete transparency and to assure them of our best sporting greetings.
We remain at your disposal for any further information, and we hope to see you all together really soon.
WFCS President
Didier Besseyre
Click here to download the official statement :
French : https://worldcompanysport.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/WFCS-WCSG-Athens-Statement-19-03-21-FR.pdf
English : https://worldcompanysport.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/WFCS-WCSG-Athens-Statement-19-03-21.pdf