Faced with the impression of emptiness left by the gauge of 1,000 spectators authorized per day to attend Roland-Garros, France Télévisions will have to adapt. This Sunday, Le Parisien indicates that the official broadcaster of the tournament has found a trick with the “sound of silence”, already used during the US Open.
It is a necessarily special edition of Roland-Garros that is coming, whose 2020 vintage begins this Sunday and ends on October 11, on an unusual date due to the coronavirus epidemic. The latest government decisions have forced the organizers to reduce the number of spectators to 1,000 people per day.
Obviously, this lack of public will be felt in the aisles of the Paris tournament and in the various stadiums. To cope with these new conditions, France Télévisions will also have to adapt. The Parisian indicates this Sunday that the broadcaster of the event is planning a trick to counter the absence of the public.
“We don’t add ‘Go Rafa'”
Fred Godard, director of the tournament for France Televisions, tested the “sound of silence” on Friday. “When the players play, the public is silent, explains Laurent-Eric Le Lay, responsible for sports. But that does not mean that there is no noise. There is always an ambient sound, which mixes the breaths, the coughs, the rubbing. We found this sound of silence from last year and we will add it live to the images captured on the court. “
The process was already implemented a few weeks ago during the US Open, which took place in early September. “Let it be clear: we will not add ‘Go Rafa’, warns the sports boss of the public group. We do not want to create anything fake.” Note that this year, a retractable roof has been added to the Philippe-Chatrier court, which will allow the matches to continue in prime time.
