PHOTOS: Waiters and waitresses with trays race through Paris again
Competitors completed a two-kilometre track holding full trays of drinks and food
Paris held its traditional ‘waiter’s race’ over the weekend for the first time in 13 years, with 300 servers tackling a racing track with a full tray of classic café orders in hand.
The course des café sees waiters and waitresses – both professionals and those in training – from across France race around a two kilometre track in the centre of Paris.
The competitors must carry a tray with a coffee, a glass of water, and croissant on it, and must reach the finish line whilst spilling as little as possible. They can walk briskly, but are not allowed to run.
The first race was held in 1914, and it was originally called the ‘course des Garçons’ (a traditional name for a waiter, although one that should not be used today).
Other countries quickly copied, however it stopped being held in Paris after 2013 due to a lack of organisation and sponsors.
Eau de Paris, the municipal water service, hosted this weekend’s race, which thousands of spectators came to watch.
It sponsored the event to showcase a ‘French tradition’ in the run-up to the Olympic and Paralympic games, which will be held in the city this summer.
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‘A real part of Parisian life’
Mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo kicked off the race, which began outside the town hall before tracing the intricate streets of the central Marais district.
“It's a celebration of the history of Paris, both traditional and modern. The bistro in Paris is an art of living. It's a place where you live, work, study, meet people, fall in love, argue,” she said.
"The bistro is a real part of Parisian life. I'm delighted that the whole world can see our desire to put it back on the map," she added.
Read more: Can Unesco save France’s collapsing cafe culture?
The winner of the men’s race, Samy, works at La Contrescarpe in the 5th arrondissement of the capital.
“It's more for laughs than anything else… but I won, and I’m happy,” he said to BFMTV.
He won in 13 minutes and 30 seconds.
“It's a good atmosphere, it brings people together around our profession… We do this for 10-12 hours, we have the stamina, we know how to hold our own,” said Sophie, a female competitor.
You can see some photos and videos of the event below:
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