.......
The good news is I don't expect what happens in France to be indicative of what we should expect globally. Not only was the country hit very hard the country has an extremely rigid socio-political system that is not suited to flexibly respond and adapt to crisis. You follow protocols because they are there or go on strike to try and spark a national revolution because the system doesn't provide the space for a middle ground (or if you are very rich you just do whatever you want but this isn't unique to France). It is reasonable to assume most countries will be at least 2 if not 3 months ahead of France.

‘Not only was the country hit very hard the country has an extremely rigid socio-political system that is not suited to flexibly respond and adapt to crisis.”


France is not the most flexible country I agree (I am French)
But I was impressed by how quick the government stepped up to offer “chomage technique” which mean something tike technical unemployment but people remain in their company and are paid by the gouvernment!
So we have about 10 million people in France under that scheme now and it will prevent many companies to be bankrupted and people being laid off so not that bad compared to many countries.
France managed very poorly availability of masks but the response to business has been great with rent cost lifted for companies like restaurant which were closed, taxes held until better situation arise!
And zero persone lost their health insurance so not that bad!
On May 11 confinement is greatly reduced, stores will be open (bars and restaurant to reopen on June 11th if health situation allows it, take away ok for restaurant now but no dine in)


Can you let me know what you mean by being ahead two months?
Is it opening businesses?
Is it containing the virus?
Is it unemployment back to normal?

Italy is already starting to talk about restarting Serie A and in the UK there are growing rumblings about restarting the Premier League with games behind closed doors. I full expect those to happen months before the September deadline announced for France. So for sports re-starting I think France is a few months behind most of the world.

My job is in applying EU regulations across Eu member states so my views on the French administration need to be taken in a wider context. The Baltic countries are 'above' everyone else i so its no surprise that Sweden and to a lesser extend Denmark have tried to promote themselves as having the model response to the crisis. I have no doubt they will try and put on events ASAP that promote themselves as the peak of wealth, health and humanity. The UK also likes to think its above everyone else but then when panic hits it just looks to everyone else for leadership. I suspect the UK will only start opening up once the rest of Europe shows its safe to ease restrictions and then PM will make an agressive Brexit speach about how the strength the national alone brought it through the crisis. So mass start events after the likes the Germany re-starts. Spain seems to do things either with minimal government interference or all out authoritarian vigor. There 6-week ban on children going outside under any circumstance was not surprising to me although even though I find it totally bonkers. Its hard to know where sports will fall on this spectrum but I wouldn't be surprised if they took an extremely hard line.

This probably belongs in the lavender room but I have seen no evidence that the various responses to riding outside across the EU are based on any more than long-held national biases. I currently live in the UK and Wales just announced a ban on anyone riding 'more than a reasonable walking distance for their home.' Its one of the literally WTF reactions which appears aimed to allow local politicians to claim they are taking addition steps to protect Welsh services from 'dirty' English people riding across the boarder. The typical NOT IN MY BACKYARD mindset that defines the relationship between the regions of the UK. The data is 100% crystal clear that physical activity and sports saves lives in the long run while drinking beer and fast food does not. In my mind we should be pushing to re-open sports first and bars later even if the acute risk of mass sporting events seems higher than the acute risk of re-opening the local watering hole.

My job is in applying EU regulations across Eu member states so my views on the French administration need to be taken in a wider context. The Baltic countries are 'above' everyone else i so its no surprise that Sweden and to a lesser extend Denmark have tried to promote themselves as having the model response to the crisis. I have no doubt they will try and put on events ASAP that promote themselves as the peak of wealth, health and humanity. The UK also likes to think its above everyone else but then when panic hits it just looks to everyone else for leadership. I suspect the UK will only start opening up once the rest of Europe shows its safe to ease restrictions and then PM will make an agressive Brexit speach about how the strength the national alone brought it through the crisis. So mass start events after the likes the Germany re-starts. Spain seems to do things either with minimal government interference or all out authoritarian vigor. There 6-week ban on children going outside under any circumstance was not surprising to me although even though I find it totally bonkers. Its hard to know where sports will fall on this spectrum but I wouldn't be surprised if they took an extremely hard line.

You are correct Nordic not Baltic.

That’s worse than when I excluded Iceland from a discussion surrounding Scandinavian approaches to EU trade policy. As they pointed out they are more pure Viking than anyone else.

I have also enjoyed pictures from my friend fat biking to work through the snow in Lulea. He’s originally from Sicily and was struggling to deciding if he would rather face a perpetual Swedish winter or being stuck in quarantine in Sicily.

Or worse I would have to move back to US and tackle State vs Federal tribalism and I wouldn’t even get health insurance.

But I stay in Canada, because the US healthcare system terrifies me.


I am a Canadian living in the US. The Canadian health care system terrifies me.

Thank you for posting this information.

I am directing a Sept. 26 half marathon in France, so there is some possibility that it can still happen. All the permits are in place.

Of course, I will abide by all regulations and if the event will not be safe, it will be postponed or cancelled.

I appreciate the government of France putting together a plan for reopening based on public health and safety.

Thank you!

Mark

You must have great insurance.

Italy is already starting to talk about restarting Serie A and in the UK there are growing rumblings about restarting the Premier League with games behind closed doors. I full expect those to happen months before the September deadline announced for France. So for sports re-starting I think France is a few months behind most of the world.

My job is in applying EU regulations across Eu member states so my views on the French administration need to be taken in a wider context. The Baltic countries are 'above' everyone else i so its no surprise that Sweden and to a lesser extend Denmark have tried to promote themselves as having the model response to the crisis. I have no doubt they will try and put on events ASAP that promote themselves as the peak of wealth, health and humanity. The UK also likes to think its above everyone else but then when panic hits it just looks to everyone else for leadership. I suspect the UK will only start opening up once the rest of Europe shows its safe to ease restrictions and then PM will make an agressive Brexit speach about how the strength the national alone brought it through the crisis. So mass start events after the likes the Germany re-starts. Spain seems to do things either with minimal government interference or all out authoritarian vigor. There 6-week ban on children going outside under any circumstance was not surprising to me although even though I find it totally bonkers. Its hard to know where sports will fall on this spectrum but I wouldn't be surprised if they took an extremely hard line.

This probably belongs in the lavender room but I have seen no evidence that the various responses to riding outside across the EU are based on any more than long-held national biases. I currently live in the UK and Wales just announced a ban on anyone riding 'more than a reasonable walking distance for their home.' Its one of the literally WTF reactions which appears aimed to allow local politicians to claim they are taking addition steps to protect Welsh services from 'dirty' English people riding across the boarder. The typical NOT IN MY BACKYARD mindset that defines the relationship between the regions of the UK. The data is 100% crystal clear that physical activity and sports saves lives in the long run while drinking beer and fast food does not. In my mind we should be pushing to re-open sports first and bars later even if the acute risk of mass sporting events seems higher than the acute risk of re-opening the local watering hole.

Putting all that aside the above discussion has nothing to do with events in France. Minimally looks like Alpe d'Huez tri is off for sure. On April 15th they said they would either have it on the original date or not bother with a reschedule!!!! So I have 15 months to try to get into some climbing shape again!!!!

But I stay in Canada, because the US healthcare system terrifies me.


I am a Canadian living in the US. The Canadian health care system terrifies me.