Cafe waiters race : The Waiter Race is a race that puts waitresses and waiters to the test. coffee and their talents for speed and balance. The boys run carrying a tray on which are placed glasses and a bottle filled with liquid and which must imperatively remain on the tray until the finish.
History of the waiters' race: There are numerous archives showing the races of waiters in Paris, London, Berlin or Geneva at the beginning of the XNUMXth century. Despite the uncertainties, it is widely accepted that the waiter race has its origins in France.
Traditionally, waiter races have been organized to improve recognition of the profession of waiters in Paris. This is the reason why races today keep a link with French culture and why the organizers often schedule them for July 14th.
Concept of the race: The concept of the cafe waiters race is quite simple. The boys must complete a racing route as fast as possible while keeping the contents of their board intact. A lot of rules and challenges have been added to the traditional race. Originally, the race rules seemed to prohibit boys from running. Indeed, the race was open to professionals only who had to measure themselves under the exact conditions of their service, that is to say by walking quickly without ever running.
Nowadays, many races allow racing and even provide for sprint or relay conditions between the different competitors divided into teams.
Today: The race crossed continents. Waiter races can be found today in more than 53 countries. From Hong Kong to Washington, DC, from Brussels to Jerusalem or from Buenos Aires in Japan, waiters are in the spotlight for a day and put on a show to the delight of the spectators who come to support them. In 2011, the waiters' race reinvested the Parisian cobblestones that it had neglected for more than 10 years. To date, more than 724 waiter races around the world since its inception have been referenced by the international waiter races website4. And according to this site, races are added to the long list regularly.
Organizers: Here is a list of typical organizers: tourist office (Trouville, 2011), trade union (Paris, 2011), café and restaurant (New York), hotel and hotel group (Hong Kong, 2010), beverage producer (Paris, 2011), event producer (Brisbane 2010), Alliance Française (Sydney, 2010), hotel school (Pontivy, 2011), festival (Portland), society of coffee makers in Geneva.
Winners: Race winners are usually awarded prizes. Many of them admit that their victory has contributed, directly or indirectly, to their advancement in their professional careers. This is the case for example of Bassel Halawani, winner of the Jerusalem race in 2009 and who was appointed Manager a few days after his victory.). According to him, the race has boosted his career by giving him the opportunity to show his qualities and his determination.