チチパスの新たな日課は「フランス語の勉強」、中断期間の生活語る

【アテネＡＦＰ＝時事】男子テニスのステファノス・チチパス（ギリシャ）は14日、新型コロナウイルスのパンデミック（世界的な大流行）に伴うロックダウン（都市封鎖）によって、フランス語を上達させる機会を得たと明かした。（写真は男子テニスのステファノス・チチパス）
　新型コロナウイルス感染症（ＣＯＶＩＤ-１９）の大流行によってシーズンが中断になる中、世界ランキング６位のチチパスはギリシャに帰国している。
　同国のキリアコス・ミツォタキス首相らと電話会談した２１歳のチチパスは「いつもより長く家族と過ごし、これまでする時間がなかったことに手をつける機会」と話した。
　「具体的に言えば、今は毎日少しずつフランス語を勉強しようとしている。ずっとしたかったが、なかなか時間がなかったから今はチャンス」
　チチパスを含む同国の著名アスリートと言葉を交わしたミツォタキス首相は、封鎖期間中に自宅でエクササイズを行うよう人々に促した選手たちに謝意を表した。
　「この試練は、習慣を変え、終わった頃には今までより強くなるチャンスだ。人々は健康的な生活の重要性を学ぶだろう。自宅で軽いジョギングをするといった、こうした状況でもできるエクササイズが再注目されるかもしれない」
　ミツォタキス首相によれば、４月の新型コロナウイルス対策がうまく進めば、５月からは「スポーツ活動の増加を含め」日常生活が徐々に再開するかもしれないという。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2020/04/16-12:38）

Greek tennis star Stefanos Tsitsipas said on Tuesday the coronavirus pandemic lockdown has given him a chance to brush up on his French.
The 21-year-old ranked sixth in the world has returned home with the global season on hold due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
It's an opportunity to stay a little longer with my family and do things I didn't have time to do before, he said during an online chat with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
Specifically, right now on a daily basis I'm trying to learn a little bit of French, it's something I've always wanted but I didn't have time to deal with and it's an opportunity now, Tsitsipas said.
Mitsotakis had a teleconference with outstanding Greek athletes such as Tsitsipas to thank them for their contributions in encouraging people to exercise at home while observing the measures.
We do have the opportunity to change habits and come out of this trial stronger. People will understand the importance of a healthy lifestyle and might even discover exercise again, even if at home, and even light jogging, things that are allowed under the circumstances, Mitsotakis said.
The premier said if April goes smoothly with measures against the illness, the gradual return to normalcy may begin in May, which will include an increase in sports activities.
Greece's world number 20 Maria Sakkari thanked and congratulated Mitsotakis and his government for the positive results in the fight against the virus.
We all understand that it is not easy, it is something very difficult, we are all grateful. I think I am speaking on behalf of everyone, it is something admirable that you have achieved, 24-year-old Sakkari said.
Olympic pole vault champion Katerina Stefanidi, 30, said things are very difficult and the more we sit, the more it will take us to return to the normality of things for us.
We are in a difficult time from now on, but I think everyone is doing what they can at home, on the street, a little on the beach, Stefanidi added.