Paris crowns champion waiters in one-of-a-kind ‘cafe race’ ahead of Olympics

Hundreds of waiters carrying trays surged through the French capital’s streets in a bid to win Les Course des Cafes

Race is designed to show off the profession months ahead of Paris Olympics. Winning waiters will be invited to Olympics opening ceremony on July 26

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Waiters and waitresses at the start of the traditional “Course des cafes” (the cafes’ race), in front of the City Hall in central Paris, France on Sunday. Photo: AFP

Published: 2:23am, 25 Mar 2024Updated: 8:15am, 25 Mar 2024

Visitors to central Paris were treated on Sunday to the sight of hundreds of aproned waiters surging through the mediaeval streets, in a one-of-a-kind race designed to show off the profession months ahead of the Olympic Games.

Men’s winner Samy Lamrous and top waitress Pauline Van Wymeersch walked the 2-km (1.2-mile) route in 13 minutes 30 seconds and 14 minutes 12 seconds respectively - each carrying a tray with a croissant, espresso and glass of water.

“We do this for 12 hours every day, including weekends and holidays,” said Van Wymeersch, who works at cafe Le Petit Pont a few hundred metres from the French capital’s city hall.

Her race-winning secret was “20 years on the job and good legs”, she said.

Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo, second left, looks on as waiters prepare to take part in the waiters’ race (Course des Cafes), in Paris, France on Sunday. Photo: EPA-EFE

As well as their medals, both winners would receive a night’s stay in a swanky hotel, said city water authority Eau de Paris, which sponsored the event.

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