Nice terror attacks - how sport reacted to horrific scenes in France

Nice terror attacks - how sport reacted to horrific scenes in France

The 13th stage of the Tour de France and other major sporting events went ahead on Friday following the latest terrorist attack to strike France.

Minutes’s silences were organised at the Tour, all four Davis Cup quarter-finals – in which France were playing Czech Republic – and the Uefa European Under-19 Championship, while the French flag flew at half-mast at the Open Championship at Troon. The Diamond League meeting in Monaco also went ahead.

French flag at Royal Troon
The French flag flies at half-mast at Royal Troon Credit: EPA

The Tour continued with a 23-mile individual time trial from from Bourg-Saint-Andéol to La Caverne du Pont-d’Arc, in the south-east of the country – although still 200 miles away from where the attack took place in Nice.

A minutes’s silence was arranged prior to the stage in memory of the 84 people killed when a lorry was driven into a crowd on the French Riviera.

Tour de France
Black armbands are worn at the Tour de France Credit: AP

“The stage goes ahead, the Tour will continue in dignity,” said Tour director Christian Prudhomme. “We will not give in to people who want to change our way of life.”

Defending champion and Yellow Jersey holder Chris Froome said: “It definitely puts everything into perspective for us here at the race when there’s the massacre that we had in Nice yesterday.

“Absolutely horrific scenes, horrific scenes. And, obviously, my thoughts today are with the French public and especially those in Nice, the families who have lost loved ones and everyone who’s been affected by these attacks.”

Additional security measures were in place for the stage, while no public address announcements were made, or music played, at the start and finish.

French security
Security for the Tour was already at its maximum level Credit: AP

Respects were paid at this week’s other major sporting event, the Open, with black ribbons made available to all competitors who wished to wear them as well as flying the French Tricolore at half-mast on the course’s final hole.

French golfer Clement Sordet wore a cap on which was written ‘Pray for Nice’.

Clement Sordet
Clement Sordet wears a cap with 'Pray for Nice' Credit: PA

A minute’s silence was arranged at each Davis Cup quarter-final, including Great Britain’s tie in Serbia and France’s in the Czech Republic, at which black armbands were expected to be worn.

French number one Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who will play in Trinec, posted on Twitter: “A few hours until the start of the Davis Cup tie, all my thoughts go to the victims and families of this tragedy #Nice06.”

Uefa, which had avoided a terrorist incident during a European Championship which concluded on Sunday – and saw Nice host four matches, including England’s defeat to Iceland – said it was “shocked and deeply saddened”.

“We would like to express our solidarity with the nation of France and our sincere condolences to the families of the victims,” it added in a statement.

“We would also like to express our solidarity with the people of the city of Nice, who were tremendous hosts for us during Uefa Euro 2016.”

Holland v England
England and Holland U21 players wear black armbands Credit: REX FEATURES

Uefa confirmed minute’s silences at Uefa Champions League and Europa League third qualifying round draws in Nyon and at the European Under-19 Championship, where France were scheduled to play Croatia. Players were expected to wear black armbands.

The Diamond League meeting in Monaco, just 15 miles from Nice, went ahead but without the usual fanfare.

Sports stars past and present also took to Twitter to express their condolences.

French tennis star Alizé Cornet, who is from Nice, wrote: “My city, my childhood, my family, my friends, my pride … Attacked, terrorised, sullied. It hurts so much. I think of you. #Nice.”

There was also a message on the feed of Paris’s bid team for the 2024 Olympics, which read: “This morning our emotional and supportive thoughts got to the families of victims and Nice #NousSommesUnis #solidarité.”

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