Snails donned their racing stripes for the 43rd Annual Snail Racing Championships in Lagardere, France.

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Snails donned their racing stripes for the 43rd Annual Snail Racing Championships in Lagardere, France, Reuters reported.

Starting at the center of the circle, the gastropod sprinters slimed for their lives to the outer edge.

Losers faced the prospect of turning into escargot.

Winners received a pardon by the city's Mayor Patrick Dubos and will face a new crop of racers next summer. （点击路透社网站查看原文及视频）

蜗牛赛跑 慢者要被煮

       据路透社报道，法国拉加代尔小镇年度“蜗牛比赛”今年已迈入第43届，吸引各色蜗牛参加。

       比赛规则是，这些爬行时黏黏糊糊的蜗牛先在桌面中央一个圆形范围内待命，比赛开始便要尽力向外爬，最早到达桌子边缘的“选手”获胜。

       落败蜗牛就会被厨师好好“料理”，成为美味的蜗牛大餐。

       获胜蜗牛可以获得市长帕特里克·杜博斯的赦免，并将参加明年夏天举办的下一届比赛。

(China.org.cn August 23, 2011)