The impacts of the covid-19 pandemic on Table Soccer's World
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Dear Federations Members, Dear Partners, Dear Players,
First of all, and most importantly, I hope that this message finds you and your families in good health and safe in these most difficult of times.
In the light of this unprecedented situation, where virtually all of our National Member Federations have been affected by the coronavirus pandemic, I urge you to continue preserving your health by all means and to follow the instructions of your public authorities.
Covid-19 has resulted in major disruption to the Table Soccer calendar and undoubtedly has impact on all of us. Be assured that the ITSF will consider each specific situation. Feel free to contact us directly at info@tablesoccer.org, our team will do its best to listen and help case by case.
Many of the March and April competitions have been cancelled. Other are still to be completed and that remains our aim, but this will happen only if the conditions allow for it. We want to avoid taking decisions too quickly and we will not require our players to take any risks for their health. The ITSF will be in touch with each tournament organiser and will estimate in real time the impacts for the 2020 sport season.
It is my fervent hope that the World’s situation improves fast. In any case, it will remain crucial to limit international movements for the rest of the year. We will do our best to maintain a reasonable calendar for the players, but the end of the season might be very dense.
At the same time, we would like to bring you as much stability as possible, by not letting you in a state of uncertainty. This is why, and for the reasons mentioned above, we announce that the World Masters and the ICC are definitively cancelled for this year. Intercontinental travels and competition are not appropriate to the worlds’ sanitary situation.
If it becomes possible to maintain the European Champions League, the competition shall be associated with another major tournament, as a World Series, in order to spare the participants’ efforts in a busy period.
The next major tournament - World Series by Bonzini – initially planned in May will not take place at that time. In order to avoid cancelling the event, the ITSF and the organiser are currently trying to look for a possible date to postpone it, in accordance with nationals and international calendars. We thank you for your understanding, your patience and your cooperation so far.
In this rapidly changing landscape, the situation is evolving differently from one region of the world to another. We are currently, and will remain, available by email, phone or video-call for players, federation, event organiser, manufacturer and every single actor of the Table Soccer World, to bring them support facing those difficult times.
No doubt that the Foos-community will emerge stronger from that crisis and that the busy beehive of Table Soccer competitions will resume soon. In the meantime, keep yourselves and your relatives safe.
Yours Sincerely,
Farid Lounas
President of the ITSF
