The draw for the teams that will participate in the second edition of the “Riviera Water Bike Challenge” took place on Wednesday, May 17, at the Monaco Yacht Club. Celebrities and world class athletes were present, notably Pierre Casiraghi, Eddie Jordan, Paula Radcliffe (marathon world record holder), Ludovic Giuly (French soccer Champion and winner of the Coupe de France), Rudi Keil (rugby) and Mika Hakkinen, Formula 1 World Champion.
Pierre Casiraghi, Paula Radcliffe, Gareth Wittstock, Rudi Keil, Mika Hakkinen and Olivier Jenot. Photo: Eric Mathon/Palais Princier
A total of 22 teams and 44 athletes will participate in the fun event on June 17, starting at 10 am. Mixed teams of professional athletes and amateurs will compete on Schiller S1-C water bikes in a relay race covering 30 laps for a total distance of 20 km in front of the sun terrace on Monaco harbour’s sea wall. Merging modern design, technology, and engineering, these bikes are quiet, sustainable and 100-percent human powered.
The public are invited to watch the race from the sun terrace on Monaco harbour’s sea wall where lots of family-friendly activities will be offered. Free admission.
Rudi Keil, rugby player; Mika Hakkinen, Formula 1 World Champion; Gareth Wittstock; Eddie Jordan; Paula Radcliffe, marathon world record holder; Pierre Casiraghi; Olivier Jenot, skier; Ludovic Giuly, French soccer Champion and winner of the Coupe de France; Federico Vella, K1 Kickboxing World Champion. Photo: Eric Mathon/Palais Princier
The race fits well with the philosophy and values of the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation. The funds raised will help finance the Foundation’s activities.
Launched in December 2012, the primary objective of the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation is to save lives by putting an end to drowning. Its missions are to raise public awareness about the dangers of water, teach children preventive measures and teach them to swim.
Pierre Casiraghi. Photo: Eric Mathon/Palais Princier
A number of “Learn to Swim” and “Water Safety” programmes have been implemented around the world in order to fight against this scourge. Since the Foundation’s creation, more than 500,000 people, mainly children, have benefited from these three programmes in 33 countries.
Paula Radcliffe, marathon world record holder and Olivier Jenot, skier. Photo Eric Mathon/Palais Princier
As part of his regular travels to places historically linked to his family, and in order to receive a doctorate honoris causa granted to him by the University of Naples, Prince Albert travelled to Italy on May 15 and 16 for a friendly visit to several venues.
On Tuesday Prince Albert was welcomed by Valentina Pontromoli, Mayor of Bardi (Emilia-Romagna). The Sovereign visited the castle, in which a monumental fresco decor was discovered a few years ago representing the coat of arms and views of the various possessions of Prince Honore II of Monaco in the early seventeenth century.
Photo: Facebook Palais Princier de Monaco
HSH continued his visit, still in the province of Parma, to the municipality of Compiano, also a former Landi stronghold. The Sovereign inaugurated a renovated square at the foot of the castle.
On Wednesday, Prince Albert continued his travels in southern Italy to Naples and Campagna.
MCFW Fashion Award Winner Constanza Cavalli Etro, Celina Lafuente de Lavotha and Karl E. Landler. Photo: Daniel Guidetti
The sixth edition of the Monte-Carlo Fashion Week was inaugurated with the reputable MCFW Fashion Awards Ceremony and Gala Dinner at the Monaco Yacht Club on Wednesday, May 16, in the presence of local and international journalists, buyers, VIPs, celebrities and Monegasque dignitaries.
Since its inception, the prestigious MCFW Fashion Awards, created by the Chambre Monegasque de la Mode, with the award itself designed by Brazilian artist and Monaco resident Marcos Marin, is attributed to stars in diverse fields of the fashion universe.
The Award Ceremony was hosted by Victoria Silvstedt accompanied the MC Peter Mackley on stage.
Maison Etro was bestowed with the MCF International Fashion Award, by HE Serge Telle, Minister of State, and Federica Nardoni Spinetta, President and Founder of CMM. This Award is the recognition for their commitment and contribution to the fashion world for over 50 years.
The entrepreneurial venture was created in 1968, when Gimmo Etro, the brand’s visionary founder, launched a production of highly prestigious fabrics, using noble and natural fibbers, which he embellished with original designs and innovative colours. In 1981 the furnishing textiles line made its debut. The Paisley motif was used to enrich their first collection that became Etro’s identity.
The product range added another string to its bow in 1984 with leather goods and the bag and travel bag collection in Paisley jacquard fabric that became a symbol of pure elegance.
In 1986, Etro launched the home accessories line and complements collection, thus consolidating the brand’s lifestyle concept. The creation of the Etro Perfumes division in the late Eighties was a natural sequence and today their collection extends to 28 exclusive fragrances and a dedicated boutique.
The Nineties saw the unveiling the first pret-a-porter lines, with their innovative style earning instant recognition for the label. The materials, manufacture and a special talent with prints are what make Etro unique.
Among other winners of awards were Rahul Mishra, who received the Sustainable and Ethical Brand Fashion Award; Flavio Briatore for the Luxury Menswear Fashion Award; German Larkin for the Emerging Photographer Fashion Award; Isttituto Marangoni for the Education Fashion Award; Constanza Cavalli Etro for the Cultural Fashion Award; and Daniel Flachaire of Banana Moon for the Made-in-Monaco Fashion Award.
The Fashion Awards Ceremony was followed by a Gala Dinner and culminated with DJ Samantha Flores who kept everybody dancing all night long.
4th edition Ladies Vintage Child CARE Charity Rally 2017. Photo: Monaco Life
The fifth edition of the very successful Ladies Vintage Car Rally will take place on September 16, organiser Martine Ackerman has announced.
Once again, the proceeds of the special day will go towards funding a girls’ schools in India. This year’s theme will be “Sea. Sun and Stripes”, and nautical outfits are encouraged.
About 80 ladies are expected to take part, and the start will be at Place du Casino, outside the Cafe de Paris, some time after 8:15 am following breakfast.
The destination is a secret, to add a little suspense. The rally will cover about 180 kilometres, and end on Place du Palais at 7 pm with the awarding of trophies and a cocktail. There will be breaks for lunch and an afternoon tea or coffee.
Participants are reminded that “this is not a race” and Martine points out that places are limited so registration must be made before July 30, with a €20 discount offered for bookings made before June 30.
A visitor to Monaco was killed in a freak accident on the weekend of May 12 and 13 when a giant cactus fell on her in the garden just above the Sun Casino, according to various press reports.
The 92-year-old French woman was among several people injured when the plant fell on them. She was admitted to hospital with a broken leg and later died, the Daily Mail said.
The other victims who were not seriously hurt – were two men in their sixties, a woman in her fifties and a 20-year-old woman, Monaco-Matin reported.
The cactus is of the type Euphorbia Candelabra, and can grow to a height of three metres. An investigation has been opened into possible negligence by the prosecutor’s office in Monaco.
ML: Tell us about yourself professionally and how you ended up in Monaco. FAP: After international work placements in public hospitals – Royal Berkshire Eye Hospital in the UK and Spain’s Hospital Ramon Y Cajal – during my specialty studies I won an Erasmus Scholarship to complete my training in St Roch Hospital in Nice and Monaco’s CHPG, lead by Dr Betis.
Once I’d completed the Erasmus year I was offered a temporary contract at St Roch, a contract that in fact went on for ten years, which gave me the chance to meet local eye doctors. Then, four years ago, I had an opportunity to enter a private practice and I seized it. At the same time a position at CHPG became available and I decided that, as a Monaco resident, my practice plus CHPG would be an ideal combination, and would save me from commuting to Nice three days a week.
ML: What made you decide to specialise in eye and vision care as an ophthalmologist? What studies did you have to complete? FAP: First of all, you need 6 years of medical school to become a doctor and surgeon. After a degree in medicine, you need to win a place in an ophthalmologist speciality school and this is really difficult, as places are very limited.
ML: Do you think people, in general, take good of their eyes? FAP: Not enough, a consultation every year is strongly recommended. Eye problems are increasing, and yet people are more likely to dismiss symptoms of eye problems, and to delay seeking medical help — a “dangerous game” that may have serious health implications. The way that people perceive their symptoms and the point at which they are moved to seek medical help can vary widely, but too often patients arrive too late.
ML: What is the biggest mistake people make when choosing eye glasses? FAP: When they look at the aesthetics of eyeglasses and not at the quality of the products, I believe this is a recurring problem with both men and women nowadays.
ML: Laser surgery today is very common. What are the risks involved and who is a good candidate? FAP: Risks are minimal in particular if all the diagnostics and pre-operatory scan are correctly done. It’s an effective solution for a range of refractive disorders, including myopia (near-sightedness), hyperopia (far-sightedness) and astigmatism, provided that that you have a healthy eye and passed all the tests to confirm integrity and perfect health of the eye.
Laser eye surgery involves the use of a laser to vaporise parts of the cornea in order to reshape it and correct visual impairments. Every type of surgical procedure carries with it a number of risks. I have been carrying out laser eye surgery for ten years and the procedure has become safer and more effective over the years, and the technology behind it is constantly improving.
ML: We understand that you offer a procedure not found elsewhere locally. Can you explain? FAP: Eye dryness or dry eye occurs when the quantity and/or quality of tears fails to keep the surface of the eye adequately lubricated. The risk of developing dry eye increases with advancing age and women have a higher prevalence of dry eye compared with men. Dry eye causes a scratchy sensation or the feeling that something is in the eye. Other symptoms include stinging or burning, episodes of excess tearing that follow periods of dryness, discharge, pain, and redness in the eye. People with dry eye may also feel as if their eyelids are heavy and may experience blurred vision, at my practice we have invested in machinery that cures dry eye and no other practice has currently this machinery in Southern France. I even have patients coming from Switzerland to get cured.
ML: What is the advantage of being a woman in business? FAP: There is very little advantage in my view. Women have to add, by default, a ballast to their schedule as tradition and culture impose upon us to cook, to take care of the children and their homework, do the housework etc … in the end, if we succeed there is great reward and satisfaction.
ML: How do you organise your day? FAP: It’s a military organisation with my husband that leaves little room for improvising. We have two kids who play tennis at the Monaco Tennis Club and Piatti Tennis Center in Bordighera, Italy. My son also plays forward on the USCA team. If you factor in training and tournaments and my time divided between the practice at the Alcazar, CHPG and eye laser surgery clinic, you end up with no room for error and planning becomes essential. A babysitter allows us to cope with our daily organisation and weekly schedule.
ML: How would you describe the female community in Monaco? FAP: There are some very active and very successful women in Monaco, although personally I have little available time as you can see. We invest our time with our kids and family.
ML: What is your favourite event in Monaco? FAP: My favourite event in Monaco is the Rose Ball in March at the Salle des Etoiles. I wish I could attend every year.
ML: As you celebrate your birthday today – Happy Birthday!, by the way – can you tell us where is your favourite place to have a coffee with a friend? FAP: Definitely my favourite spot for coffee is the Monaco Yacht Club deck.
