WFCS Offcial Statement World Company Sport Games in Athens

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. Few days ago, you received the newsletter from the Greek organizing 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 working 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 with determination the maintenance of the Games. We have the will and the ambition to organize 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 desire to do and play sports whereas many have been without this possibility for a year. 
We take this opportunity to salute and thank our clubs and companies for their strong support. We have only received a few cancellation requests. You mainly want to go back to sports fields and take advantage enjoy this great sport, tourism and friendly moment.

For all these reasons, we are continuing our efforts as well as our vigilance because, here and there, we observe difficulties. Our Greek friends are on the move to organize 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 be adapted 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 (see the article). This allows us to reasonably hope for the safe reception of participants in Athens. 

We also confirm you the extension of the registration deadline since May 10th, in order to provide ample time to the participants 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.