Rugby World Cup celebartions in Toulouse
October 4th 2007 11:06
Like all the host cities for the Rugby World Cup, Toulouse has dressed itself for the event and gone into party mode to welcome its visitors.
In the arrivals hall at Gare Matabiau, travellers mill around a larger than life sculpture of two railway guards who lift a Rugby player to seize the ball in a lineout. World Cup logos line one wall. The ubiquitous SNCF (French National Railways) cardboard Rugby players windows run across the others and the ceiling is strung with nations of flags.
Down town every cafe has its grand ecran, or big screen, and several smaller ones besides, where patrons watch the current live matches, or endless re-runs, while they drink and dine. In the square on Avenue Jean Jaures, young promoters, dressed as All Blacks hand out publicity from big black Adidas vans, painted with the white kowhaiwhai scroll patterns of New Zealand.
Down on the banks of the Garonne, on the far side of the Pont St Michel, is a Rugby village of white tents; bars selling beers from around the world; restaurants offering a menu of local specialties; shops and stalls, selling Rugby gear, souvenirs and, of course, mobile phones; lounges with giant screens and even a small sand Rugby field, where, in the after match twilight, fans and by-passers battle it out.
The Jardin des Plantes is fairground. The trees, shrubs, monuments and flower beds are obscured by a blaze of carnival neon and noise.
But behind all the World Cup hype and the window dressing, in the small cafes and bars off the beaten track, in back-streets and among ordinary people in everyday Toulouse, there's a sense that Rugby is a part of the heart of the place. A passion for the game pulses deep in its veins. Toulouse is a Rugby town..
Rugby sculpture at Gare Matabiau Toulouse
In the arrivals hall at Gare Matabiau, travellers mill around a larger than life sculpture of two railway guards who lift a Rugby player to seize the ball in a lineout. World Cup logos line one wall. The ubiquitous SNCF (French National Railways) cardboard Rugby players windows run across the others and the ceiling is strung with nations of flags.
All Blacks Adidas
Down town every cafe has its grand ecran, or big screen, and several smaller ones besides, where patrons watch the current live matches, or endless re-runs, while they drink and dine. In the square on Avenue Jean Jaures, young promoters, dressed as All Blacks hand out publicity from big black Adidas vans, painted with the white kowhaiwhai scroll patterns of New Zealand.
The banks of the Garonne
Down on the banks of the Garonne, on the far side of the Pont St Michel, is a Rugby village of white tents; bars selling beers from around the world; restaurants offering a menu of local specialties; shops and stalls, selling Rugby gear, souvenirs and, of course, mobile phones; lounges with giant screens and even a small sand Rugby field, where, in the after match twilight, fans and by-passers battle it out.
A game of sand Rugby
The Jardin des Plantes is fairground. The trees, shrubs, monuments and flower beds are obscured by a blaze of carnival neon and noise.
The Carnival in the Jardin des Plantes
But behind all the World Cup hype and the window dressing, in the small cafes and bars off the beaten track, in back-streets and among ordinary people in everyday Toulouse, there's a sense that Rugby is a part of the heart of the place. A passion for the game pulses deep in its veins. Toulouse is a Rugby town..
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