The Dutch GroenLinks political party is advocating having men instead of women greet the Giro d’Italia prologue winner on the podium in Amsterdam. According to Reuters, party member Marco de Goede brought forward the idea during a meeting of the Amsterdam city council to promote the city as the “Gay Capital”.
“In a city like Amsterdam, known as the gay capital, it would be nice not to have two beautiful women, but two attractive men,” he suggested.
De Goede believes the move would raise the profile of the city with respect to the gay community, and further the acceptance of homosexuality in sport.
Men’s sport has a long-standing tradition of beautiful women presenting race trophies and flowers to the victors. Giro d’Italia organizers have not yet reacted to De Goede’s idea, but it’s likely to conflict with the hiring of Yolanthe Cabau van Kasbergen, who is extremely popular in The Netherlands, as the “face” of the Italian Grand Tour.
The Giro d’Italia will start on May 8 with an 8.4 kilometer individual time trial that finishes in Amsterdam’s Olympic Stadium.