For its 107th edition, the Tour de France will start on August 27 in Nice. To promote this event to children, several activities are taking place this Thursday and Friday to introduce them to what awaits them in the coming month.
“It’s the sporting event of the year for the city,” proudly says Jean-Luc Gagliolo. The Deputy Mayor in charge of Education, Books, the Fight against Illiteracy, and the Identity of Nice, does not hide his enthusiasm for this gathering at the Empress Eugénie center. No less than 350 children aged 5 to 12 from 16 different schools are present today, along with about fifty facilitators. The aim of these days is to raise young people’s awareness of the Tour de France and its importance for the Nice community, by making the event fun and educational. “Nothing like a global event to educate and inspire young people to take an interest in something,” continues Jean-Luc Gagliolo, emphasizing that it could improve their learning of cycling.
After a welcome speech from the Deputy Mayor, there is a parade of flags from the different schools, as well as floats representing stages of the Tour de France. The first race of the day is about to start to determine who will wear the yellow jersey. Diego, from the Baumettes center, takes first place. Kindergarten students also have a race organized for them. However, it is on balance bikes (bikes without pedals, editor’s note) that the 5-year-old children will compete. The winners of these races, as well as those of a previously held dictation, will be able to attend the start of the Tour de France from a dedicated area on the Promenade des Anglais.
Other activities await the children until 4 PM, such as a target game, a drawing workshop, and a special goose game themed around the event.
