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Tour de France goes Down Under!
The Tour de France will be starting in London for the first time in its history this weekend, but the capital's streets will have just as much an Aussie feel to them as French, writes David Fuller
Bicycle riding kangaroos - attached to the top of vehicles following the race - and thousands of mini-kangaroo road signs are just some of the sights visitors to the city, and those watching the race at home, will see as the prestigious Tour de France cycle race winds its way from London to Canterbury before making its way across the Channel to France.
While the link between Australia and the Tour de France may not be immediately obvious, the South Australian government will be using the event to promote the state to British tourists, students and would be migrants alike. "This is a fabulous chance to introduce thousands of Brits to the brilliant blend of opportunities South Australia offers as a place to live, visit and gain a great education," says Tourism Minister Jane Lomax-Smith. "The Tour de France has the third-largest live and TV audience in the world and this year's Tour is expected to be the biggest ever. This is the first time in the 104-year history of the Tour de France that the race starts in London, providing us with a brilliant opportunity to reach the people who are among our best 'customers' as tourists, migrants and students," she adds.
In recent years the number of people moving to South Australia from the UK has grown from 572 in 2002 to 3,009 in 2006, while 23 per cent of the state's overall tourist arrivals hail from Britain. Over 200 students also make their way to study at the state's various universities and Technical and Further Education (TAFE) colleges each year.
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Tour de France goes Down Under! 06 July 2007