The BIGGEST sporting event to visit the island of Ireland EVER - The Tour of Italy! A Smiley is needed!

[Panwearsrosa]

The Giro d'Italia is the most prestigious cycling event in the world outside of the Tour de France, and next week it starts in Belfast for 2 days, around the Titanic Quarter and a race up to Giants Causeway and back, then a race from Armagh to Dublin in the Republic before resuming in Italy.

Just contemplating an event like this a few years ago would have been inconceivable, but now the Pro-Cycling world is investing in the North and the Republic, and few of us would like MN to invest by way of a smiley/pink jersey emocion to recognise the event. Millions of £s and euros will be spent and 100,000s of people will be lining the routes. cermolafoam reports that Belfast is slowly turning pink!

Here is a link to the thread in Sports. It's a sort of taster for what it will be like in July when the Tour de France starts in Yorkshire.

MN wants to see opinion on the proposed smiley for next week, (not sure why a simple yes or no isn't an option?) so please post "pink" or "yes" or something a bit longer if you'd like.

Even the Pope has been exhorting new priests to get round their parishes by cycling. Which gives substance to the exclamation "Christ on a bike."

[OwlCapone]

Why does it need a smiley?

[Panwearsrosa]

To promote and celebrate the event being on the island. Given the not so recent past it's an historic achievement.

[Panwearsrosa]

sorry meant not-so-distant past...

[DoctorTwo]

I'd love to see a jersey emoticon for the duration of the Giro. If it's a neutral colour as opposed to pink it could be reused for the Tour de France.

[LostInWales]

Maglia Rosa please HQ [simle]

OwlCapone because our islands were the laughing stock of the cycling world, then we went and won everything and are now hosting the starts of two of the biggest sporting events in the world. Everyone needs to know!

[LostInWales]

simle? Oh ffs

[OwlCapone]

I just don't see that a smilie on my parenting site does anything to promote it.

I am neither for nor against, I am indifferent.

Provided it doesn't move.

[OwlCapone]

Oh FGS a parenting site. I don think it's mine.

I think my fingers are faulty.

[AuntFidgetWonkhamStrongNajork]

I dunno about a smilie, but I'll send you a map.

[Panwearsrosa]

Well apart from anything else, it's a massive boost for the entire island - that the international profile is changing so much, and having a pink shirt/smiley circulating round a huge media site like MN would help boost that. Many people are entirely unaware of the event.

and it's a cost-free big of fun.[pinksmile]

[OwlCapone]

I think many people would assume it's for breast cancer awareness if you go with pink though.

[Panwearsrosa]

Well that's not a problem!

It's pink as the tour leader at any stage wears the maglia rosa, the pink jersey, like the French Tour leader wears yellow.

[DramaAlpaca]

Pink jersey or smiley please MNHQ.

[HowGoodIsThat]

Si, MNHQ - and you can keep it and make it yellow for TdF Yorkshire, s'il vous plait!

[Northernexile]

Was up in Belfast today, and I can confirm the pinkness! It's going to be ace!

[Cremolafoam]

Phew - found you !
I have spent the day directing visitors around Belfast. Excitement building with only a week to go.
The sense of hugeness is erm,HUGE! And Extraordinarily pink!

Mumsnet we would love your support in the shape of a pink jersey or a bike which would see us through the Grand Tour Season.

With regards to the tv coverage , as previously mentioned BBC NI will indeed be covering the race on all three days that it is in NI-( Friday Sat and Sunday) so check your skyboxes etc and tune in.
qui
e qui
And online
e qui

As far as this being relevant to families, if anyone is in NI or visiting there are stacks of parallel events for kids and a fringe festival including Italian films and bike maintenance workshops ! etc being run by Belfast city council.
Get your Pink on.

[Panwearsrosa]

Good bit of research there, Cremolafoam!

Live on the Beeb. C'mon MN, get pinked!!

[SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius]

Please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please can we have a pink jersey emoticon, MNHQ? And a yellow jersey emoticon later on, when the Tour de France comes to Yorkshire.

Please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please!

[SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius]

Please.

[Cocolepew]

loved the pink signs telling about road closures today

[Cocolepew]

Oh look

[Panwearsrosa]

Could you make it any bigger Cocolepew?

[DramaAlpaca]

PLEASE, please, please???

[YoureBeingASillyBilly]

Yes! Pink jersey please!

Those asking why? Well why not?

[Cocolepew]

Yes, probably .