The international sporting spotlight is set to shine on Leeds once again following its confirmation as a host location for the Grand Départ of 2027’s Tour de France Femmes.
00:00It's been 12 years since we had the Tour de France come here, but now I'm really excited that the Tour de France for Mavic Swift is also coming here.
00:07As a British rider, as a female, it means the world to me that the next generation have got the opportunities I didn't.
00:14It will be huge. The previous two Grand Depart in the UK, in London in 2007, in Yorkshire in 2014, were unforgettable.
00:24Unforgettable. People cheering alongside the riders. In 2007, London, it was my first to ask director, first time in my life, I saw the riders applauding the crowds.
00:38Fabian Concella had won the prologue. He was a Euro jersey. He had won the day before in London.
00:45And this Sunday morning, just before Tower Bridge, there were so many people, not only in the streets, but in the buildings.
00:54I think that's an opportunity for communities to come out and support not only the riders, but take part in local activities, you know, whether that be through old people's homes, whether it be through street parties, through schools, and actually bring some joy back into life.
01:09And I know we've called the program Joy, which purposefully has done that.
01:13Christian Prudhomme, the race director, always said that going through France every day, the race brings joy to communities.
01:19You see people smile. And life's pretty tough these days. Not many people smile every day.
01:24And I think we'll see that in 2027, that throughout the length and breadth of the UK, people will get something really special, a great opportunity to see the best in the world, the third biggest event in the world, but also do something locally for their communities.
01:39And whether that be Melvois Choirs in Wales, whether it be painting Liverpool yellow, whether it be something uniquely stark around the Lake District, we'll have to see.
01:48Thanks to London, thanks to Yorkshire in 2014, we have more bids than before.
01:55We have bids from most everywhere in Europe, for example, Czech Republic, but it's a bid.
02:02The UK is leading the way in terms of equality in sport. I'm incredibly proud that I've been a part of that as well.
02:11We are always pushing for equality. Of course, it's still part of the conversation.
02:15So that means we're not quite there yet, but we're heading in the right direction.
02:19And I'm proud to say that Britain is at the forefront a lot of the time of that equality.
02:23There's been lots of controversy recently about the cost of tickets for major global sporting events.
02:29People don't have to pay to come and watch this. They can see the very best in the world go past their doorstep and through their villages.
02:36But I think also it's bringing communities together.
02:41You know, I live in a community in Scotland and if the race was going through there, there'd be community activity, whether that be through street parties, whether it be through looking after people locally,
02:52taking them out to watch the race and see something they'll probably never see again.
02:56So we talk about that once in a life opportunity and it actually is.
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