Day: 12 July 2019

Monaco not only hosted another spectacular edition of Herculis EBS IAAF Diamond League on Friday 12th July, it also – for the first time in athletics history – managed to produce an event where the stadium’s air quality took centre stage.

Through a collaborative effort between the Monegasque Ministry of Environment, the Monegasque Athletics Federation (FMA), the IAAF and Stade Louis II, where air quality monitoring devices have been installed, athletes and spectators were able to view the stadium’s live air quality data delivered in real time via the meeting’s website.

The objective is to bring about greater awareness about air pollution, a silent killer that claims the lives of seven million people each year, according to figures from the World Health Organization (WHO).

Heeding the call for urgent action, the United Nations declared air pollution as a theme for 2019 and this FMA initiative is one significant way through which athletics has become involved.

“I am very happy about this project because it is great progress for athletes’ health as well as spectators,” said meeting director Jean-Pierre Schoebel. “Air quality is something that we should all be concerned about and I hope that this project succeeds and that we will continue it next year for the 34th edition of our meet.”

An athlete running at 70% of maximal oxygen uptake for the length of a marathon (roughly three hours) inhales the same volume of air as a sedentary person would in two days.

By opting to share air quality in Stade Louis II, the FMA demonstrates its commitment for transparency in this domain, an act other meetings will be encouraged to follow.

“The activity of athletes happens mostly in the track and every stadium is different,” said Miguel Escribano, Business Development Manager at Kunak, the IAAF’s air quality monitoring device supplier.

“So, the challenge is to always be able to monitor as close as possible to the activity in real time and with enough accuracy. Although the data we obtain is not meant to be used for regulatory compliance purposes, with high accuracy, one can build indicators and insights that are useful to protect the health of general population and improve the performance of athletes. In Stade Louis II for example, with valuable information on the hourly variability of pollutants, we can identify the best and worst periods of the day for training and competition to avoid hotspots.”

An ongoing IAAF five-year study on air quality will enable its health and science department to study the correlation between air quality and athlete performance, following on from its preliminary research which found a performance reduction in highly polluted environments.

The Little Singers of Monaco are currently on a concert tour of the UK and kicking off their British leg was a momentous performance in the Tower of London.

The male choir was hosted by the Monaco Embassy on Sunday 7th July in London, before performing that evening, by special permission, at the Royal Chapel of St. Peter ad Vincula, the parish church of the Tower of London.

The historic building dates from 1520 and is best known as the burial place of some of the most famous prisoners executed at the tower, including Anne Boleyn, Catherine Howard and Lady Jane Grey.

Around 40 people, invited by the Embassy and members of the congregation of the Chapel, were able to access the Tower of London after closing hours and attend the first ever concert of the Little Singers in the UK.

The next day, the choir performed at the London Helvetian Church in the presence of several ambassadors and members of London’s diplomatic community. This building, still an active place of worship, was recently renovated to host artistic events and offered beautiful acoustics to the young artists.

The Little Singers will continue their tour with a concert at Notre Dame de France, their third and last performance in the capital, before heading to northern England and Scotland.

Prince Albert II has launched MonaBike, the Principality’s new electric bike-share system that will help residents and tourists navigate Monaco’s hilly terrain without breaking a sweat.

MonaBike, previously known as the Monaco Bicycle Service, is an automated system of electric bikes and stations, initiated by the government and the Monaco Bus Company and created by Canada-based company PBSC Urban Solutions. Together with the eco-bus, the boat-bus which crosses Port Hercule and the two night services, the bikes form part of the Principality’s action plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by improving transport services.

The self-service electric bikes, initiated in 2010 and launched commercially in 2013, has been so successful that, from 13th July, the number of stations have been doubled, while the number of bikes on offer have tripled.

So what has changed? MonaBike now boasts around 300 bikes and 35 stations including three in Beausoleil (from September), which will be available on the weekend for free tests at the Rose des Vents, Larvotto. The bicycles feature a unique speed with a pedal pressure sensor for better driving experience and greater simplicity. Capable of reaching speeds of up to 25km per hour without noise, the MonaBike has a distance range of 60km, enough to travel across the Principality worry free. Once docked, the e-bike battery begins to automatically recharge.

Locating, renting and returning a MonaBike is also simple. An intuitive CycleFinder mobile app features real-time mapping of stations. It also allows users to easily unlock an e-bike by scanning its QR code, or CAM subscribers can use their transit pass by tapping it on a bike’s docking station.

The service is available for subscription as well as occasional use, for people aged over 16 years, via the website or through its mobile application. Prices have also been significantly reduced, with a single journey starting from as little as 1€, while weekly, monthly and yearly masses are also available.

This summer, the Hôtel Hermitage Monte-Carlo is being filled with the fragrances of the Middle East with the arrival of Maison Noura, an illustrious institution of Lebanese cuisine based in Paris.

The fragrance will guide you directly to the Salon Excelsior and onto its shaded terrace where Noura will be set up for the summer. A lounge bar and Lebanese dining will be on offer from 15th July to 25th August: an ambiance out of a Thousand and One Nights is guaranteed.

The family-owned business, created in 1989 and enjoyed by generations of Parisians and international customers, has chosen Hôtel Hermitage Monte-Carlo as the location for its summer ephemeral restaurant, with the unique ambiance and flavours of Lebanon that have brought the restaurant chain so much success.

It is a sensory culinary experience that can be enjoyed every evening from 5pm until midnight in the Salon Excelsior, with its terrace and views over Monaco.

The lounge bar also opens at 5pm and offers a shisha bar, colourful cocktails and mezze against a musical backdrop. It will gradually give way to dinner under the stars.

On the menu are delicious, revisited versions of Lebanese cuisine, influenced by the Middle East and Mediterranean.

Seasonal products are subtly enhanced with the best spices from around the world, such as coriander, cardamom and sumac, or the delicate blends of za’atar and baharat.

The mezze menu offers all the classics: Lebanese tabbouleh, hummus and aubergine caviar along with fresh seasonal salads.

Light, culturally blended and colourful, Maison Noura’s cuisine celebrates fish with its carpaccio, tartare and the famous cod sayadieh. Also of note are its signature dishes including the confit royal d’agneau for two to share.

It is a unique and unforgettable oriental experience in an exceptional setting, just waiting to be enjoyed.