Sport is becoming an increasingly popular platform for viral stunts by protestors, so when French environmental activists from “Dernier Renovation” briefly halted the Tour de France in the Alps on Tuesday, they were able to reach a global audience. While others flocked to works of art by artists like Vincent van Gough, climate campaigners’ “Just stop Oil” campaign received a lot of attention at the British Grand Prix Silverstone circuit in July. Sports, however, seem to have a wider audience.
According to some estimates, the Tour de France, which consists of 21 stages, has up to 3.5 billion viewers across the 190 countries where it is broadcast.
A picture of the Alps where holiday throngs were spending a glorious day outside was shut off by the broadcasters.
She was wearing a white T-shirt with the group’s name written at neck level on it. The slogan was “We have 1028 days left,” and it was written in English, not French.
The same woman attached herself to another demonstrator by the neck on Tuesday, wearing the identical T-shirt with the addition of the phrase “We have 989 days left,” which gives the impression that time is running out.
In relation to a farmers’ protest that took place when Geraint Thomas was competing for the 2018 Tour championship, he claimed to have observed the demonstrators “being carried away.”
Sports protests have a long history in the fight against racism, from the Black Power salute at the Mexico Olympics in 1968 to the NFL’s take a knee protest for Black Lives Matter in 2016.
Equal pay is a pressing problem, and gender equality activists have also utilised sports to spread their message.
