Parisian waiters, laden with drinks, took part in a race with trays

Waiters hold trays as they zip through the capital for 1.25 miles. Photo: CHRISTOPHE PETIT TESSON/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock/Shutterstock

The 100-year-old tradition was revived on Sunday by 200 Parisian waiters who ran more than a mile carrying a tray of coffee, water and a croissant.

The waiters present some of the most delicious dishes in the city. Iconic cafes and restaurants tested their tray-balancing skills in a speed walking race that started at City Hall and wound its way through the streets of the Marais.

Sunday's event marked the return of the event just months before the Olympics, with 15 million spectators. are expected to converge on the city, testing the mettle of Parisian waiters.

Participants are dressed in black and white. they were given trays with a glass of water, a cup of espresso and a croissant on a plate to rush around the French capital.

Points were deducted for spilled contents, and participants were warned that they would be disqualified for carrying trays with both hands or running.

A jubilant A participant crosses the finish line in the tray race in Paris. Photo: Berzan Nasser/ABACA/Shutterstock/Shutterstock

“After 11 years of absence, what a great day to relaunch the iconic café race,” the mayor’s message said. Anne Hidalgo on Instagram.

With a time of 13 minutes, Sami Lamrousse of La Contrescarpe won the gold medal in the men's category, while Pauline Van Wiemersch of Café Le Petit Pont won the gold medal in the women's category, crossing the finish line in just over 14 minutes.

Both The winner received a voucher for a night at the hotel and spa.

Other famous Parisian restaurants and cafes took part in the competition: Bouillon Chartier, Le Train Bleu, La Tour d'Argent, Le Procope, Brasserie Lipp and Harry's New York Bar.

The event was organized by the city, municipal water company Eau de Paris and hotel trade unions, reviving a tradition that began in 1914.

< p>He was launched to promote Parisian cafes and the skills of their staff. Previously, the race lasted more than six miles, with participants balancing full-size water jugs or bottles of wine.

The event has since been exported to more than dozens of cities around the world, including London, Berlin, Brussels, Buenos Aires and Tokyo.

“This is the spirit of Paris, a cafe where everyone is gathering,” a spectator on the sidelines told FranceInfo.