PARIS (AFP) – Tourists in the narrow streets of Paris’ historic centre next month may find themselves dodging swarms of servers with trays of coffee and croissants, as a long-defunct waitering contest is revived.
First born in 1914, the course des garcons de cafe (cafe waiters’ race) is being held on March 24 for the first time since 2011 – four months before the city hosts the Olympic Games in July-August.
“It’s the rebirth of a legendary race,” said one of Paris deputy mayors Dan Lert and chief of the French capital’s water authority Eau de Paris, which is stumping up EUR100,000 (USD107,000) in sponsorship.
Unlike their Lycra-clad Olympic counterparts, the waiters will wear a white shirt, dark trousers and an apron “which will be provided” by organisers, Lert said. Running will be banned as they each bear a tray with a croissant, a coffee and a glass of water over a two-kilometre route through the tight medieval streets of the Marais district – all, hopefully, without spilling a drop.
The 200 contestants will start and finish the race at city hall by the Seine river.
