Ahead of the Olympic games, Paris hosted its first Waiter Race, Course des Cafés, since 2011. Servers and waiters from all over the city go on a low-speed race through the city carrying trays holding the sorts of things you’d see in a restaurant: cups, water, big giant croissants (it is Paris, after all).
This particular race had 200 participants in traditional black and white clothes, aprons, and bow ties. You know, movie wait staff attire. They completed a 1.2-mile loop and were inspected by judges at the end for spilled water or, god-forbid, tape.
The winners, Samy Lamrous (13 minutes and 30 seconds) and Pauline Van Wymeersch (14 minutes and 12 seconds), took home medals and won a night’s stay in a fancy hotel with tickets for two to attend the Olympic opening ceremony.