May 31 is a day filled with historic events that have shaped the world as we know it. From the birth of the Tour de France to the chaos caused by Paris Saint-Germain fans, this day has seen its fair share of excitement and tragedy.
Early Years: Tour de France and Self-Government
In 1903, the most famous cycling race, the Tour de France, started for the first time, and in 1907, the Orange River Colony, now known as the Free State, was granted self-government by the British. This marked a significant milestone in the history of South Africa, as it paved the way for the country’s future development.
In 1910, the Union of South Africa became a dominion, with a degree of self-governance, and in 1916, the Battle of the Somme claimed the lives of 19,000 British soldiers on its first day. The world was also introduced to the international distress signal, SOS, in 1908, which has since become a universally recognized call for help.
Modern Era: Technology and Sports
The modern era has seen significant advancements in technology, with Sony introducing the Walkman, the first portable cassette player, in 1979. This revolutionized the way people listened to music and paved the way for future innovations in the music industry.
In the world of sports, Mike Tyson, also known as ‘The Baddest Man On the Planet’, was suspended indefinitely and had his $20m purse withheld after biting off part of Evander Holyfield’s ear during their heavyweight title fight in 1997. More recently, in 2025, Paris Saint-Germain football club fans caused chaos across France, resulting in two deaths, 201 injuries, and hundreds of arrests, after the club’s victory in the Champions League.
Other notable events on May 31 include the launch of the passenger ship Willem Ruys, later renamed the Achille Lauro, in 1947, and the seizure of a world-record 14 tons of amphetamines by Italian police in 2020. The day has also seen its share of controversy, with the admission by Britain in 1963 that their diplomat Kim Philby was a Soviet agent, and the visit by British Home Secretary Reginald Maudling to Northern Ireland in 1970, where he reportedly referred to the country as ‘a bloody awful country’.
For more information on the history of the Tour de France, visit the Wikipedia page on the topic. The Battle of the Somme is also well-documented on the Britannica website.
- 1903: Tour de France starts
- 1907: Orange River Colony granted self-government
- 1908: SOS adopted as international distress signal
- 1910: Union of South Africa becomes a dominion
- 1916: Battle of the Somme claims 19,000 British lives
