FRANCE: MOUNTAIN CLIMBERS COVER THE LIGHTS OF THE EIFFEL TOWER IN BLUE LYCRA FOR THE NEW YEAR CELEBRATIONS

Record ID: 858824

  • Title: FRANCE: MOUNTAIN CLIMBERS COVER THE LIGHTS OF THE EIFFEL TOWER IN BLUE LYCRA FOR THE NEW YEAR CELEBRATIONS
  • Date: 27th December 2000
  • Summary: PARIS, FRANCE (DECEMBER 27-28) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) PAN UP: NIGHT SHOT OF THE EIFFEL TOWER WIDE OF MOUNTAIN CLIMBERS AND TOURISTS UNDER THE EIFFEL TOWER SV/SCU: MOUNTAIN CLIMBERS PREPARING EQUIPMENT (2 SHOTS) SCU: (SOUNDBITE) (French) JEAN-PAUL JARNIAS CHIEF MOUNTAIN CLIMBER SAYING: "We had two weeks of preparation. We have placed 10 kilometres of rope which will allow the mountain climbers to climb safely despite slightly difficult conditions. We have a three-night task, and there will be 10 mountain climbers on each side of the Eiffel Tower and they all know exactly what they have to do." TILT UP: EIFFEL TOWER SCU/SV: MOUNTAIN CLIMBER SHOWING HOW TO PLACE BLUE LYCRA ON THE BULBS (3 SHOTS) SV/MV: MOUNTAIN CLIMBERS WALKING ALONG (2 SHOTS) VARIOUS OF MOUNTAIN CLIMBERS CLIMBING THE EIFFEL TOWER (5 SHOTS) VARIOUS OF MOUNTAIN CLIMBERS PLACING BLUE LYCRA ON BULBS (3 SHOTS) WIDE OF THE EIFFEL TOWER
  • Embargoed: 11th January 2001 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: PARIS, FRANCE
  • City:
  • Country: France
  • Topics: Entertainment,Quirky,Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky
  • Reuters ID: LVAE946WEIWMVCYGP1E89K781LFH
  • Aspect Ratio:
  • Story Text: With New Year's festivities in mind, a 40-strong group of mountain climbers in Paris are covering the lights of the Eiffel Tower in blue lycra.
    They aim to have all 20,000 bulbs covered so that the famous monument will glow blue as the New Year turns on December 31.
    The most famous landmark in Paris - the Eiffel Tower - is always a focal point for celebrations at New Year. Last year it was illuminated by hundreds of fireworks, this year the challenge is a little different, with 40 mountain climbers scaling the Tower to cover its lights in blue lycra.
    Mountain climbers worked all night on Wednesday (December 27) placing blue lycra covers on the light bulbs over the 324 metre (1,036 ft) tower.
    The Eiffel Tower will light up and glow blue at midnight (2300GMT) on New Year's Eve when France's capital tries to live up its reputation as the "City of Light". The new lighting system will flash all night (December 31 - January 1) and the following night will flash in its new colours every hour on the hour for ten minutes. How long the famous tower remains blue all depends on how much people like the spectacle, there are plans on the draking-board to keep the blue lights as a permanent fixture.
    Until New Year's Eve the Eiffel Tower will remain in total darkness.
    Jean-Paul Jarnias the head of the light-covering operation says the task is a dangerous one, but the team of climbers are up to it: "We had two weeks of preparation. We have placed 10 kilometres of rope which will allow the mountain climbers to climb safely despite slightly difficult conditions. We have a three-night task, and there will be 10 mountain climbers on each side of the Eiffel Tower and they all know exactly what they have to do."
    The Eiffel Tower, with about six million visitors a year, claims to be the world's most visited paying monument.
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