The Monaco Athletics Federation announced that it will not be able to hold the 2018 Riviera Classic run from Ventimiglia to Monaco, an event with a 20-year history.
After the cancellation of the 2017 run following the tragic events on the Promenade des Anglais in July 2016, the Federation had asked the Prefecture of the Alpes-Maritimes in April to ascertain the security measures that were needed and could be implemented for the event in 2018. The answer did not arrive until early November and was discussed at a meeting on December 20.
The conditions set by the state services, although similar to those imposed for the Nice-Cannes Marathon accepted by the municipalities concerned, were deemed impracticable by the towns of Menton and Roquebrune.
Faced with this regrettable dilemma, the Monaco Athletics Federation decided that organising the event would be impossible and wanted to inform runners as soon as possible.
The other planned events, including the Monaco Run – the 10k from Monte-Carlo on March 11, the Herculis Relay and Pink Ribbon Walk will take place as planned.
HE Isabelle Picco, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Monaco to the UN, presenting the Prince Albert II of Monaco and UNCA Prize to Somini Sengupta, New York Times. Photo: DR
The traditional Gala of the UN Press Correspondents Association (UNCA) was held on December 16 in New York, in the presence of UN Secretary-General António Guterres.
The prizes were awarded in the 21st UNCA contest for the best coverage of the UN and its agencies.
Her Excellency Isabelle Picco, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Monaco to the UN, presented the Prince Albert II Prize to four women journalists for their reporting on climate change.
The highest award went to Somini Sengupta, of the New York Times, for her coverage of the impacts of climate change on migration. Her article is part of a series of eight on “Carbon’s Casualties”.
Actress Angelina Jolie, Special Envoy of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, received the Global Citizen of the Year Award.
The Monaco Digital Security Agency held an awareness meeting on the risks and safety of industrial systems on Thursday, December 21, with the participation of the French National Security Agency of Information Systems, Siemens, Schneider Electric and Stormshield.
The so-called “industrial systems” include traffic lights, variable message signs, parking barriers, and ventilation/air conditioning management systems.
These systems are highly computerised and interconnected with conventional information systems by online means, and as such they are exposed to the same threats, with potentially more serious consequences.
Participating in this meeting were state user services, industrial system installers/integrators, public service concessionaires, SMEG, SMEaux, Monaco Telecom, health facilities and others.
After more than seven years devoted to the overhaul of Human Resources services at the Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer (SBM), Agnès Puons, Secretary General, has decided to end her professional career from January 1.
Agnès Puons joined SBM in March 2011, as Human Resources Director and General Secretary, after having worked for the Prince’s Government. Having done a great deal of work to reform the group’s social responsibilities, in particular the salary system, she put employee value and career development at the heart of the Human Resources Department.
Talent management, training, mobility, health and safety at work, homogenisation of pay processes, fairness and transparency have been foremost among the new values introduced to the Human Resources Department and the group in recent years.
Ms Puons also focused on the development of a sense of belonging, through the creation of numerous events bringing together all employees from all sectors and all institutions within the group.
The Presidency, the Executive Committee and its staff extended their deepest gratitude for the breadth and quality of the work done in just a few years, which is the foundation of SBM’s new social project.
Emmanuel Van Peteghem, Legal Director and member of the Executive Committee, will succeed her as Secretary General.
The Christmas Village and the Santa Claus Workshops are in full swing on the Port of Monaco until Sunday, January 7, 2018, and as every year, the Monaco City Hall will offer a free ice show on the open-air skating rink.
This year’s special event – “Folie de Noël sur glace” – will be on Saturday, December 23, at 5:30 pm; as presented by the troupe Patin’air.
On the programme: slides, waterfalls, mountain biking, aerobatics, magic, live music, elegance, jokes and, of course, Santa. The grace of the ice and the magic of the circus will come together to offer an enchanting and wonderful show to discover with the family, young and old.
The Ice Christmas Madness event is free, but spaces may be limited.
Sergiy Gladyr, Olivier Mura, Geneviève Berti, Oleksiy Yefimov, Dr Ilhani Aygun, Minister of the Interior Patrice Cellario, Laetitia Mikail, Paul Lacombe and Amara Sy. Photo: Philippe Fitte
Wednesday night, Monaco’s Junior Chamber International (JCI) hosted its fourth and final Business Time of the year for 2017.
The evening’s theme was “Business and Communication in Sport: the Monaco Basketball Project”, which coincided with the signing three days earlier of the AS Monaco Basketball Partners Association.
Around 70 members and friends of JCI, as well as Minister of the Interior Patrice Cellario, AS Monaco Basketball team captain Amara Sy and players Sergiy Gladyr and Paul Lacombe, gathered at the BMW showroom at 9 rue du Gabian to hear about basketball and its relationship with the Principality from three speakers: Geneviève Berti (Director of the Government Communications Department), Oleksiy Yefimov (General Manager of AS Monaco Basketball) and Dr Ilhani Aygun (President of AS Monaco Basketball Partners Association and President and CEO SSI-Monaco Space Systems International Monaco).
Oliver Mura. Photo: Philippe Fitte
JCI’s outgoing president Oliver Mura opened the event, followed by Director of Business Network Events 2017 Laetitia Mikail, who explained that, in addition to the obvious sporting attractions of international stature in the Principality – the Grand Prix, the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters and the Herculis track and field meet, Monaco is home to 70 sports associations and 38 sports federations.
Genevieve Berti commented that “sport is a universal language” and that the Government’s Communications Department is responsible for all the PR for AS Monaco Basketball, and with a budget of €1.5 million per year, they want the team to be known internationally as a Made in Monaco product. She added that while sports unite people in values and solidarity, when you are a small country like Monaco, you must look to the outside.
Ms Berti also pointed out the long history of basketball in Monaco – AS Monaco was created in 1924 – with the Harlem Globetrotters playing in Monaco and the US American Dream Team, including Michael Jordan, practiced in the Principality prior to the Barcelona Olympics in 1992. NBA Legend Magic Johnson, a frequent visitor to Monaco, celebrated his 25th wedding anniversary at the Yacht Club last year.
Dr Ilhani Aygun (President of the AS Monaco Basketball Partners Association and President and CEO SSI-Monaco Space Systems International Monaco), Oleksiy Yefimov (General Manager of AS Monaco Basketball) and Geneviève Berti (Director, Government Communications Department). Photo: Philippe Fitte
This international appeal is the reason for the creation of the AS Monaco Basketball Partners Association. As its president, Dr Aygun, said, “This association will give us a voice in the world of basketball, to attract more sponsors which will financially support the club and provide sustainable long-term success.”
Success seems to be a key word for AS Monaco Basketball, also known as Roca Team. GM Oleksiy Yefimov painted a clear picture: “Four years ago, Monaco’s basketball team was in the 3rd French Division and less than 100 people would come to a game. Last weekend, the match was sold out with 3,000 fans in attendance and we now lead the Pro A Division.”
Riding on a wave of victory, Roca Team has won nine consecutive games and is looking for number 10 this Saturday, December 23, at 7 pm, when they play ESSM Portel in Salle Gaston Medecin – a game which will be complete with cheerleaders and a Kiss-Cam.
Sergiy Gladyr, Paul Lacombe and Amara Sy. Photo: Philippe Fitte
As is fitting just before Christmas, this weekend’s match will join in the spirit with a collection of new toys for children and adolescents for the French non-profit charity, Secours populaire.
AS Monaco Basketball and the National Basketball League count on the generosity of fans in this holiday season: receptacles will be placed at the entrance to the Salle Gaston Medecin to accept gifts.
Wednesday’s Business Time event was partnered with EFG Bank, Your Private Driver, Studio Gentile, Monaco Receptions, Gordon Blair and Athos Partners.
Business Time is a quarterly event in French and English dedicated to Networking in Monaco to highlight an example of excellence in the Principality, with the exceptional participation of recognised speakers. For more see the website.
