French press review 29 June 2013

As Mandela's life hangs in the balance, today's French papers look at how the world is reacting, especially US President Barack Obama. Meanwhile, the Tour de France cycling competition celebrates 100 years.

The visit to South Africa of US President Barack Obama is the front page story in today’s Le Figaro. The right-wing paper reports that the long-awaited trip hangs unfortunately on the ailing health of global icon Nelson Mandela, amid contradictory information about the condition of the 94 year old former president.

Le Figaro quotes diplomatic sources, saying it will be impossible to maintain Obama’s official programme if something dramatic happens to the father of South Africa. How the American president will conduct himself in terms of Mandela's situation has become the subject of discussion and speculation in Pretoria and Washington, according to Le Figaro.

It claims that while many South Africans would like to see the first black US president by the bedside of his hero, others are strongly opposed to any such visit, which has been reserved up until now to family members, and top officials of the government and ruling ANC party.

Obama faces a delicate situation, according to the paper, as he cannot afford to take the risk of being accused of indifference towards Mandela. He has been suspected of trying to hijack or profit from the passionate affection surrounding the great man.

Le Figaro reports that as Mandela appeared to be spending his last moments, his family was locked in a quarrel over his property and where he should be buried, involving his wife Graça, his three children, 17 grand children and 14 great grand children.

Aujourd’hui en France travelled to Mandela’s hometown of Qunu, where discreet but saddened residents are facing a long wait; the final homecoming of their prodigal son. According to the paper, preparations around Madiba’s home and droves of journalists gathering around the property have left a dark shadow of death hanging over the small town.

The national dailies are all about the 100^th edition of Cycling’s greatest event, the Tour de France, which takes off from Corsica today. The milestone is worth celebrating, crows Aujourd’hui en France. It looks forward to three hectic weeks of partying and lively encounters between the superstars, with some 12 million cycling fans expected to pack the race course as it winds across France.

As the odds on favourites pack the starting line in the Corsican town of Porto Vecchio, L’Equipe notes that this is the first time since 1903 that the great Tour is coming to the splendid island.

The sports daily is betting on the Kenyan-born British star Christopher Froome and the Spanish matador Alberto Contador to fight it out at the finish line. The Catholic daily La Croix is betting on a place under the sun for one of the great French hopefuls, Pierre Rolland, who won a stage in last year’s race.

Le Figaro takes a look at the charged history of the race, regretting that the stigma of doping is set to haunt this year’s bonanza once again. This is after blood samples collected from former French champion Laurent Jalabert tested positive to EPO. Provocative remarks by the disgraced American cyclist Lance Amstrong have not helped. Armstrong said in a pre-race interview that it is "impossible" to win cycling’s most famous race without doping.

Libération reports that the dimension of the scourge in the sport has forced the French Senate to set up a super doping control agency that overrides all sporting federations. The left-leaning newspaper is however pleased to see that the Tour de France is still an extremely lucrative event. It reports that the Amaury Sports Organisation, which organises the Grand Prix, has announced a budget of 170 million euros, projecting to reap an estimated 32 million euros in profits this year. That represents a 7-10 percent increase over last year’s earnings, according to the paper.