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Calais tries to cash in on 2012 Olympics

While London prepares for the 2012 Olympics, the country which lost out to the UK in the bidding process is ready to join in the celebrations – or, at least, one town is ready…

Councillors in Calais are planning to cash in on the London Olympics by rebranding their region “part of Britain”.

The town has already landed contracts to train other countries’ teams ahead of the games. Chad’s boxing, wrestling, judo and athletics teams have agreed to hold training camps in the region, along with the canoe and kayak teams of Uzbekistan and Senegal.

Dominique Dupilet, head of the Pas-de-Calais’ county council, said: “I consider that we are the south of England, and because we’re the south of England it’s normal that we would associate ourselves with this extraordinary event.”

Officials insist the trip from the Channel Tunnel to central London takes no longer than a journey across the capital.

Mr Dupilet added: “Don’t tell anyone, but I always thought London was better for us. “My colleague was telling me to write a condolence card when Paris lost, but I was busy hoisting up the British flag.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .