Riviera Water Bike Challenge gala raises €266,000 for Foundation

(L-R): Pierre Frolla, Ambassador for the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation, Agnès Falco, Secretary General of the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation, HSH Prince Albert II, Bruno Senna, Ambassador for the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation, and Jo-Ann Strauss, Master of Ceremonies Photo: © Eric Mathon / Palais Princier

(L-R): Pierre Frolla, Ambassador for the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation, Agnès Falco, Secretary General of the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation, HSH Prince Albert II, Bruno Senna, Ambassador for the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation, and Jo-Ann Strauss, Master of Ceremonies Photo: © Eric Mathon / Palais Princier

As Monaco Life reported earlier this month, a world first sporting event will take place in Monaco on June 4, thanks to an initiative by Princess Charlene. The Riviera Water Bike Challenge (RWBC) is the first relay race of its kind on water, covering 21 kilometers between Nice and Monaco using Schiller S1 water bikes.

The charity challenge is in support of the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation’s project in Burkina Faso, and in partnership with the Monaco Red Cross and Burkina Faso Red Cross, to put into service an aquatic rescue centre.

The major fundraising event to support the RWBC was a gala dinner held in the presence of HSH Prince Albert at the Monaco Yacht Club on Friday, March 24.

In addition to the limited number of gala tables, available in three packages – Ruby, Sapphire, and Diamond – there were also three separate auction elements to raise funds for the Foundation.

Until 5 pm Friday, there was a silent online auction of 17 Lots, including tickets to the Wimbledon 2017 Men’s Final, a Michael Schumacher Gold Anniversary Helmet, Rafael Nadal’s tennis racket, a training session with Paula Radcliffe, and 2 passes to access the Monaco Grand Prix Fairmont Hairpin.

In addition, there was a live auction on the night involving 8 Lots ranging from sports (HSH Prince Albert II’s Olympic shoes and Nico Rosberg’s Mercedes Benz Racing Suit) to art (last photograph of Charlene Wittstock before she got married, signed by Julian Lennon) to South Africa (Nelson Mandela’s handprints).

Finally, guests had the opportunity to bid for a place on a specific Riviera Water Bike Challenge team. In total there will be 10 teams, each made up of 2 celebrity sports personalities and 2 amateurs.

Between the live and silent auctions €266,150 was raised.

Photo: Eric Mathon/Palais Princier
Photo: Eric Mathon/Palais Princier
Photo: © Eric Mathon/Palais Princier
Photo: © Eric Mathon/Palais Princier

The athletes on hand Friday evening will take part in June’s Riviera Water Bike Challenge. This includes women’s marathon world record holder, Paula Radcliffe, Monaco Olympic gymnast Kevin Crovetto, Pierre Frolla, four-time world record holder in free diving and Ambassador for the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation, AS Monaco striker Valère Germain, Dan Luger, rugby world champion with England and Bruno Senna, race car driver and ambassador for the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation.

Monaco’s mayor Georges Marsan, as well as Jacques Raffaele, Mayor of la Turbie, were present. As were Frédéric Platini, Secretary General of the Monaco Red Cross, Michael and Gareth Wittstock, Brett Gosper, CEO of World Rugby, and Judah Schiller, creator of the Schiller Bikes, which will be used to race.

Photo: Eric Mathon/Palais Princier
Photo: Eric Mathon/Palais Princier

The evening was presented by South African TV star and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Jo-Ann Strauss, while entertainment was provided by Garçons Chics, Capital Collective and the South African Cenestra Male Choir.

Article first published March 26, 2017. 

 

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Private Label summit in Monaco supports Prince’s Foundation

Photo: © Manuel Vitali/Direction de la Communication
Photo: © Manuel Vitali/Direction de la Communication

For the fifth consecutive year, the Annual Summit of the members of Monaco Private Label was held over three days in the Principality under the direction of Michel Bouquier. Two hundred holders of the prestigious card, from 25 countries, mostly active entrepreneurs, were in the Principality to deepen their knowledge of Monaco.

Among the highlights were lectures at the Oceanographic Museum with the participation of members of the government Patrice Cellario, Minister of the Interior, Marie-Pierre Gramaglia, Minister of Public Works, Environment and Urban Development, Dominique Riban, Director of the Monegasque Security Agency.

In addition Robert Calcagno, Director General of the Oceanographic Institute and Bernard Fautrier, CEO and Vice-President of the Prince Albert II Foundation, of which Monaco Private Label supports three projects.

At the invitation of Serge Telle, Minister of State, a lunch was given with the participation of Jean Castellini, Minister of Economy and Finance.

A dinner in the presence of the Sovereign Prince was the occasion for Private Label to present a cheque for €200,000 in support of the Prince Albert II Foundation.

There are currently 1,500 private label cardholders from 44 countries.

 

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Brazil and Monaco links celebrated

AMBI et le MEB, Monte-Carlo Bay
AMBI and MEB at Monte-Carlo Bay

The Association Monaco Brazil Invest (AMBI) has celebrated its first two years, at Monte Carlo Bay, and announced new initiatives.

AMBI was launched by its founders – Marcos Pileggi (President of AMBI Monaco and Vice-President of AMBI Brazil), Arnoldo Wald Filho (President of AMBI Brazil and Vice-President of AMBI Monaco), Luciana de Montigny (Secretary General of AMBI ) and André de Montigny (Honorary Chairman of AMBI in Monaco and Brazil) – to promote commercial, financial and economic cooperation between Monaco and Brazil.

Totally independent, private, non-governmental and not-for-profit, AMBI received the support of the Government of Monaco in 2015 to create the new organisation, mainly financed by the contributions of its members. On the strength of its bilateral status, these countries benefit de facto from a simultaneous affiliation in both countries. To strengthen this international dimension, an economic cooperation agreement aimed at optimising and pooling the assets of the Monaco Economic Board and AMBI was signed in March 2016.

Justin Highman, Director of Monaco Invest, a department of the MEB dedicated to investor prospecting, made a presentation of the incontestable assets of the Principality to Brazilian entrepreneurs. After this reminder of the advantages of the partnership between Monaco and Brazil, AMBI wanted to share with its members and friends the vision of experts on computer data, its protection, its regulation and the opportunities this offers.

Me Richard Mullot, lawyer advocate and former President of the Bar Association of Monaco, presented the “Evolution of law and regulation in Monaco regarding the protection of corporate data”. And Dr Renato Opice Blum, a professor of digital law at Insper, developed the subject of “Cloud and its activity in Monaco: trends and opportunities in a data protection framework”.

After a difficult year for Brazil, Marcos Pileggi recalled the importance of continuing to favour the rapprochement between the South American giant and the Principality. “More than ever, we must act as a facilitator in trade and investment,” he said.

As for the Principality, recognised as one of the safest places in the world, the President of AMBI underlined the tremendous opportunity now within its reach to become one of the most secure places in the world in the field of the protection of computer data, a subject that will be resolutely at the heart of AMBI concerns in the months to come.

 

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Launch of the annual campaign #WhiteCard 2017

Photo: © Manuel Vitali/Direction de la Communication
Photo: © Manuel Vitali/Direction de la Communication

Joël Bouzou, President and Founder of Peace and Sport, launched the #WhiteCard 2017 campaign at the Yacht Club of Monaco in the presence of the Sovereign Prince, the Minister of State, numerous personalities and several great sportsmen including Jean-François Tordo, Paula Radcliffe and Monaco resident, Fiorina Berezovsky of the Monaco Women’s Olympiad Chess Team and youngest champion at Baku 2016.

Prince Albert commented, “In my capacity as Head of State, Olympian, IOC Member, Patron of Peace and Sport and the World Association of Olympians, I welcome this initiative, which is naturally anchored in the values promoted by the Principality and its involvement within the sports movement to promote peace.”

A collective WhiteCard photo was taken on the roof of the Aquarama Riva Bar to launch the 2017 campaign “Show us where you play your peace”. The purpose of this initiative is to celebrate the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace. On April 6, everyone is invited to take part using the symbol of white cardboard.

“Our campaign for peace #WhiteCard allows us to spread our vision of a peaceful world across the five continents and this year will be no exception” said Mr Bouzou. “Year after year, our Champions for Peace are working tirelessly to promote our message that sport can be a vehicle for change around the world.”

This year’s slogan “Wherever you are, take part in the important event!” invites people to indicate their geographical location in their photos with white cardboard, thus illustrating the “international nature of sport and encouraging people of all races, nationalities and religions to share our common goal of a peaceful society”.

Take a picture, alone or in a group, waving a white cardboard, as referees do, then post it on Peace and Sport social networks (Facebook,Twitter and Instagram) specifying names and commenting: @peaceandsport # WhiteCard # IDSDP2017

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Diamonds and trousers confiscated by court

Photo: TVZ Design
Photo: TVZ Design

An Italian has been sentenced to two months in jail for attempting to smuggle two diamonds in the belt of his trousers with the intention of selling the precious stones in Monaco. The diamonds were said to have a combined value of almost €400,000.

The defendant’s actions were in violation of the Sovereign Order of 1963 on the Customs Convention between France and Monaco, the Criminal Court was told.

Prosecutor Alexia Brianti called for one year in jail, with an arrest warrant, plus the confiscation of the diamonds, the BMW X3 he was driving when apprehended and his trousers.

The trafficker told the authorities that he had been hiding the stones from his wife and that he had no intention of selling them. The diamonds were intended as a patrimony for his three children, and one boy born out of wedlock, he told the court.

However, the defendant’s record is tainted with multiple convictions between 1973 and 1999 for weapons offences, fraud, smuggling stolen goods, conspiracy, violation of VAT laws and more. Furthermore, his statements on the origin and destination of the precious stones varied throughout the course of his arrest, time in police custody and statements made before the judges.

 

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