| VOICE OFF: |
'Motive: the psychological feature that arouses an organism to action; the reason for the action.' |
| SCENE 1 |
(The speakers come to the centre of the stage) |
| SPEAKER 1: |
Have you ever wondered why a person makes a particular decision or takes a particular action? Maybe they made a completely different choice from the one you would make. Why did they? What was their motive? |
(Show map of France or Tour de France map)
| SPEAKER 2: |
We have a story to tell you that involves motives - in this case the story of a sportsman. Have you ever heard of the Tour de France? Most of you will know a little bit about this famous race. Every year about twenty teams of bike riders from different parts of the world compete to see who can win this incredibly gruelling race around France. |
| SPEAKER 3: |
The whole event takes three weeks to complete. The teams ride all the way round the country from Northern France to the south - and back again- striving to be the first to the finishing line in Paris. |
| SPEAKER 4: |
Some days they race across the flat countryside of France and that's hard work - but the biggest challenge is tackling the steep mountain roads as the teams struggle to get through the mountains. |
| SPEAKER 1: |
The Tour de France has been in the news a lot this year. For a number of years there have been scandals about the riders taking drugs to assist them in their attempts to win. |
(Show photos of modern competitors)
| SPEAKER 2: |
We want to tell you a story about something that happened during the Tour de France a number of years ago before performance-enhancing drugs started ruining this very popular sport. |
SCENE 2
Show a photo of RENE VIETTO
| SPEAKER 3: |
In those days, all you had to rely on was your bike and being as fit as possible. After that it was a matter of luck. But luck wasn't on the side of a 20 year-old rider named Rene Vietto. |
| SPEAKER 4: |
When the French selectors picked Rene Vietto for their team in 1934, they came in for a lot of flack because he was a relatively young and inexperienced rider. What no-one realised at the time was that Rene Vietto would become one of the most famous sportsmen associated with the race. And for a very unexpected reason. Let's cross to our roving reporter for an update of today's leg of the race. |
Some riders mime their painful struggle on an uphill part of the course.
The Roving Reporter - very excited - steps forward with a microphone.
| ROVING REPORTER 1: |
The French spectators are going mad here in the mountains. |
Spectators cheer the riders on!
| ROVING REPORTER 1: |
The French National Team is leading and looks set to win today's stage of the Tour de France, with popular team leader Antonin Magne unstoppable at the front of the pack. |
Team leader Antonin Magne, on his bike, looks happy and confident and determined to do his best.
| ROVING REPORTER 1: |
In second place is newcomer Rene Vietto who's doing an incredible job for such a young rider. He's really giving it everything he's got! |
The spectators cheer on their heroes with phrases such as 'VIVE LA FRANCE!', ' BONNE CHANCE MAGNE!', 'ALLEZ-Y!', 'COURAGE MON BRAVE!'
| ROVING REPORTER 2: |
It's vitally important for the French team to maintain their lead today if they want to win the overall race this year. |
More cheers for Magne.
| ROVING REPORTER 2: |
But what's happening? A tragedy is unfolding before our very eyes! |
The crowd gasps as - in slow motion - team leader Magne falls from his bike.
| ROVING REPORTER 2: |
It's terrible! Magne has fallen. It's a nightmare! But wait! He's getting up! He's not hurt, but his front wheel is ruined. He won't be able to continue the race! What a tragedy!! |
| ROVING REPORTER 1: |
But look!! This is unbelievable!! |
Still in slow motion - we notice Rene Vietto moving towards his team leader. He presents Antonin Magne with his own bike.
| ROVING REPORTER 1: |
The crowd can't believe their own eyes! Vietto is giving his team leader his own bike. This is extraordinary. What a sacrifice this young man is making. He could easily have ridden straight past his leader and gone on to win the race himself - but he has chosen to stop and help his team mate! |
Magne, deeply grateful, takes the bike and disappears from view as Vietto sinks back to the ground beside the useless bike.
The crowd goes wild with cheers for Vietto but he doesn't seem to hear them as he sadly watches Magne disappearing from sight.
Show a photo of Vietta with the useless bike.
SCENE 3
| SPEAKER 1: |
Twenty year old Rene Vietto has saved the day for the French team! Without hesitation, he gave up his bike to the race leader. What do you think you would have done in those circumstances? |
| SPEAKER 2: |
Some newspaper reporters called him mad but the French people loved him. They hailed him as a hero for his unselfish actions. |
| SPEAKER 3: |
Rene said he did it because he genuinely thought of cycling as a team sport. He said the team is more important than the individual. Where do you stand on that point? Do you agree with Rene Vietto? |
| SPEAKER 4: |
It sounds a bit old-fashioned these days, but what Rene did was 'the honourable thing'. Should honour play any part in sport and life these days? |
| SPEAKER 1: |
We hope you enjoyed the story and that it has given you something to think about. |
The speakers start leaving the stage... but suddenly Speaker 1 has an afterthought...
| SPEAKER 1: |
Oh - you might like to know that the story didn't end there. Guess what happened the very next day: Anton Magne was in the lead again. In second place was Rene Vietto. What would've been the worst thing that could have happened? |
| SPEAKER 2: |
Magne crashed again? |
| SPEAKER 1: |
Magne crashed again! His bike was damaged beyond repair. |
| SPEAKER 3: |
And did Rene Vietto come to the rescue a second time? |
| SPEAKER 4: |
Nobody would make that sacrifice again. No-one would ask a team mate to do such a thing. Nobody would expect it. |
| SPEAKER 3: |
Magne could hardly believe his eyes when he saw Rene climb off his bike and hand it to the team leader. Antonin thanked him, jumped on the bike and went on to win that leg. And the French National Team won the Tour de France that year - thanks to Rene Vietto. |
| SPEAKER 1: |
Is that pushing the idea of team spirit too far? You decide. |
The speakers leave.
