During normal times, politicians often like to stress how important exercising is for your health. However, nowadays, in the age of the coronavirus, those voices have seemingly disappeared. Guy Fusenig, the former sports commissioner, regrets this development.
The former highest-ranking official in the Ministry of Sport thinks that especially during these times it could have been possible to stress the importance of sports.
Guy Fusenig served between 2001 and 2012 under 3 Ministers of Sport, namely Anne Brasseur, Jeannot Krecké, and Romain Schneider. A graduate and now retired PE teacher, Guy Fusenig is naturally aware of the benefits of regular exercise:
“I expected a more proactive promotion of sports and exercise from institutions like the Olympic Committee and the Ministry of Sport. A lot of people had plenty of time with their children, and it would have been a welcome change in these depressing times”.
According to Fusenig, who is also the president of the football club CS Grevenmacher, sports have to play an important role in the exit strategy when it comes to the health of the nation in the near future. He strongly rejects the plan to keep sports facilities closed until 31 July:
“Several federations have voiced their opinion on this subject over the last few days. In Germany, the federal state of Rhineland-Palatinate opened its facilities on 20 April, and some of France’s facilities are expected to reopen on 11 May. In order to take this decision, it is important that the right people work together: politicians, scientists, and sport officials. Safety measures have to be respected. I am sure that this could go well. Nowadays, our trainers are well educated. They know how to approach the challenge in an educational way, and keep children, adolescents, and adults far enough apart while they go about their favourite sporting activity”.
Fusenig himself has made use of his time in lockdown by cycling or going for walks. However, what the former sports commissioner misses most is social interaction and community life.
