Cambo-les-Bains: volunteers mobilize for the duck race

Volunteers from Cambo-les-Bains were on hand this Wednesday, July 2, to prepare for the traditional duck race, which will take place this Sunday on the Nive.

Every year, the same ritual and bustle reign at the municipal technical center in Cambo-les-Bains. At dawn on Wednesday, July 2, a handful of volunteers gathered to label, package, and store thousands of plastic ducks ready to sail down the Nive on the afternoon of July 6.

At some tables, the atmosphere is relaxed: "Don't write on the labels like you're writing a love letter, go a little faster!" jokes one of them. Fortunately, the oppressive heat has given way to more breathable air. This logistical stage is an opportunity to take stock of the sales, where more than 7,000 ducks have already been registered, while waiting to reach 11,000 (once all the sales books have been returned) with no fewer than 92 lots at stake. Worried for several weeks, the organizers managed to convince dozens of them to go into the water to secure the course and collect everything once the race is over. All that remains is to hope that the weather conditions will be optimal on the big day.