AS Monaco have achieved back-to-back wins for the first time since February 2018 with a 4-1 victory over Brest.
Monaco’s 3-1 success against OGC Nice in the derby on Tuesday had eased the pressure on coach Leonardo Jardim as the 2017 champions finally got that first win of the season under their belts. Now they were targeting back-to-back wins for the first time since February as Ben Yedder returned to the starting line-up along with defensive duo Fodé Ballo-Touré and Kamil Glik.
Brest were fresh from holding Olympique Lyonnais in midweek for a third consecutive draw but the hosts served notice of their intentions as both Ben Yedder and Islam Slimani drew saves from Gautier Larsonneur in the early stages.
The opening goal duly followed in the 26th minute as a Gelson Martins cross was flicked on by Slimani for Ben Yedder to score.
Gaëtan Charbonnier squandered a great chance to equalise for Brest and the one goal was all that separated the teams at the break. The Brittany side then saw their hopes of getting back into the game dealt a blow when goalkeeper Larsonneur was forced off just before the hour mark, with Donovan Léon coming on his place.
The substitute goalkeeper had not played in the top flight since he was at AJ Auxerre in the 2011-12 season and he was very quickly picking the ball out of net. Monaco won a penalty when Léon brought down Ben Yedder in the area and Slimani stepped up to score from the spot for his fourth goal of the campaign (62′).
Slimani then released Martins to run through and score Monaco’s third in the 73rd minute only for Alexandre Mendy – who had replaced Brest captain Mathias Autret in the first half – to volley in for the visitors and reduce the deficit (77′).
Monaco were not finished there, though, and Keita Baldé wrapped up the win at the death, beating Léon after Slimani had again done the set-up work.
From their dreadful start to the season, Monaco are now level on points with Lyon and the outlook is far brighter for them. They also move above Brest, as Olivier Dall’Oglio’s side suffer their second loss of the campaign.
Monaco are getting a quick return on their €40 million summer investment in France striker Ben Yedder. Back in the starting line-up after being rested in midweek, Ben Yedder already has five goals in six games for the club. He also won the penalty scored by Islam Slimani for Monaco’s second goal.
International celebrities have gathered in Monaco for the third annual Monte Carlo Gala for the Global Ocean hosted by Prince Albert II of Monaco. The gala is known for having the most jaw-dropping auction items ever offered, many put forward by Prince Albert himself, all in support of his foundation’s initiatives for marine conservation.
It was at the terraces of the Opera Garnier that a-list celebrities, dignitaries, royalty and a host of international personalities came together on Thursday 26th September for the highly anticipated Monte-Carlo Gala for the Global Ocean. Elaborately decorated in an underwater theme, the event now serves as the main fundraiser for the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation.
Social humanoid robot Sophia AI made an appearance, while guest of Honour Robert Redford was rewarded for his lifelong environmental preservation work.
“Well before the environment became a global issue he chose to try to take concrete steps to protect our planet,” said Prince Albert. “This commitment has shaped a significant part of his life and even, I think, influenced some of his career choices. He showed that it was possible to combine professional excellence with respect for these values. That is a lesson for all of us.”
Nicole Kidman, Uma Thurman and Andy Garcia all served as Masters of Ceremony, while special guests Patricia Arquette and Jane Seymour joined the Prince on stage to raise awareness about the crisis facing our Ocean.
In a nod to the event’s theme, Gwen Stefani appeared in a baby blue Elie Saab dress with a long train and bodice pleats that mimicked undulating waves. Stefani not only attended the gala but also performed, as did Andrea Bocelli, Kool & the Gang and Robin Thicke.
Other guests included Adriana Lima, April Love Geary, Tommy Hilfiger, Isabeli Fontana, and Jasmine Sanders.
A selection of the most incredible items and lifetime experiences went under the hammer in an auction conducted by Simon de Pury, including a private dinner with Prince Albert, his personal electric powerboat, and a ceramic owl fashioned by Picasso. Funds raised will support the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation’s marine conservation projects.
SBM has just announced that Canadian diva and legend Céline Dion will be performing in the Place du Casino for a one-night only show next July.
As part of the singer’s Courageworld tour, she will make a stop in the Principality on 18th July 2020 to give an exceptional concert for fans, many of whom have not had a chance to see her live since her last concert at the sold-out Allianz Riviera show in Nice in 2017.
The concert attracted 32,000 and was the first to be held at the new stadium.
For her English-speaking fans, the French-language only tour meant they missed hearing her perform some of her greatest hits. This concert will make up for that.
The artist has sold more than 230 million albums worldwide in her long career.
Tickets are on sale from 21st November both at the SBM ticket office and on her official website www.celinedion.com
This will be the only stop on the Côte d’Azur for Dion on her new tour.
Monaco lays out new eco-friendly construction plans
Over 200 representatives from Monaco’s construction industry and town planning professionals have come together to put forward it’s new plan to approach sustainable growth in the Principality.
Government Counsellor-Minister of Equipment, Environment and Urban Planning Marie-Pierre Gramaglia led a meeting last week to discuss the Principality’s new approach to urban planning. Called the Mediterranean Sustainable Buildings of Monaco (BD2M) plan, it offers a “tailor-made” approach to sustainable construction to ensure all future projects meet the guidelines set out by the Mission for Energy Transition programme launched by the government.
“The environmental and energy performance of buildings accounts for more than 30% of the Principality’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions,” said Marie-Pierre Gramaglia. “It is a priority axis of the government’s policy in terms of energy transition and reduction of our GHGs.”
The plan is based on the free and cooperative exchange of ideas, techniques, skills and experiences amongst the construction professionals of the Principality. This collective endeavour has produced a novel way of ensuring all new buildings will be of the best quality in terms of environmentally sustainable construction, and well within the procedures set of by the Prince’s government.
The Mediterranean Sustainable Buildings of Monaco method will be employed in the building of all public construction, renovation and new project, effective immediately.
The final goal is for Monaco to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by half as of 2030 and to become carbon neutral by 2050.
Interview: Konrad Bergström on electric boats and stirring up the industry
The Monaco Yacht Show is famous for its opulent display of superyachts, a fleet which this year was valued at over four billion jaw-dropping euros.
But the Principality is also leading the world in sustainable practices, so it is unsurprising to see, floating beside these incredible mega yachts, a far less lavish but no less interesting boat made out of cork. It is called X Shore and it is 100% electric
Monaco Life Editor Cassandra Tanti went on board the Swedish craft during the MYS and spoke with its creator Konrad Bergström and sales director Abozar Kya about why this small vessel is creating such big waves in the boating world.
Founder and CEO of X Shore Konrad Bergström and Sales Director Abozar Kya
Cassandra: Can you tell us about the concept behind X Shore?
Konrad: I have always had a passion for the sea and over the years I have seen how it has changed: fish are disappearing, there is too much plastic and dirt in the water, and all the combustion engines out there just don’t make sense to me.
Why this boat?
Konrad: The X Shore brand is something I started in 1996 when I saw that boats were not as well defined as cars, so I thought I could do better both from a design and functionality perspective. When I saw a Tesla concept in 2012, especially their electric drive train, I thought that the same concept would work on the sea. But water has a density of 784-times the air, so you need a lot of power to move something in the water. Boats are always open, so there are also a lot of fumes and noise pollution from a combustion engine. So, for all of these reasons, X Shore became my new big venture.
Abozar: Apart from the fact it is electric, there are two things that are very important when it comes to the design of this boat. On the outside, it doesn’t look like a traditional boat so it is easily recognisable from far away. Inside, we created a modular system based on aluminium grids which not only act as a water flush but also allow you to clip in any chair and table combination that you like, to meet various needs. The interior has been designed with cork because it is sustainable, light and robust. But at the same time, it is anti-slip, particularly when wet. Meanwhile, cork absorbs the heat.
So, this is far from traditional boat design?
Abozar: In the boating industry, traditions have always been respected, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t improve. Our idea is to offer something that is modern and different for the whole boating industry.
Our inspiration comes from the South American eel, a creature defined by strength and grace. At the head of each vessel is a sculpture of the eel, paying tribute to our inspiration but also serving as a reminder that our boats work in harmony with nature. Over time these bronze hulls take on the green hues of the ocean through contact with saltwater. No two of our vessels will look alike.
Who is X Shore’s target market?
Abozar: Thanks to the modular design, this boat can fit many different needs. If you are a superyacht owner, you would love to have an electric tender because it is the hot new toy; if you are a charter company, it is a new way to transport clients. It can be used for island hopping, by hotels; we actually just met with the mayor of Venice who agreed that it is a great way for people in his city to get across the waterways in a very stylish and sustainable way.
Governments are now putting pressure on people to change their habits. Countries like Switzerland, Germany and Austria are banning fossil engines from the lakes so the only alternative is to use electric boats.
How many do you plan to sell?
Abozar: Our goal is to sell 2,000 boats in five years. To achieve global sales, we give people the opportunity to customise their craft on our website.
What have been the biggest challenges up until this point?
Konrad: As an entrepreneur, you have to be a sheep herder, so you have to control finance, science, the backend, production, etc. But we have had some big breakthroughs: in marketing terms we have had 2.1 million unique visitors to our website, and more than 600 people who have asked to see the boat. So, we can see that there is huge interest for this product globally. We have a boat now that is reaching our standard of 40 knots, 25 knots for two hours and 100 nautical miles at lower speeds. Now, we are challenged with the production and how we can take these prototypes and industrialise them in a sustainable way where we also make money. It’s not an easy task but I am sure that we can do it.
Well it is the perfect time to be showcasing the boat here in Monaco, especially given the IPCC report on oceans and ice caps which was released at the Oceanographic Museum on Wednesday…
It actually breaks my heart to say that climate change is the turbo of this business but I believe that if all entrepreneurs got together and created more sustainable ways for the future then we will all be safe. It’s time for everyone to take responsibility and try and help. I don’t believe we should go backwards; we need to find sustainable ways to have a modern life.
Monaco-based association SheCanHeCan has unveiled its latest campaign ‘The Equality Pledge’ in the fight for gender equality at a special exclusive cocktail event held at Club Thirty-Nine.
More than 140 people attended the event on Wednesday 18th September, including representatives from the government, activists, writers and sports personalities. The opening speech was delivered by President of Monaco’s National Council Stephane Valeri, followed by author and activist Gina Martin, who was instrumental in making the practice of “upskirting”, taking a photograph between someone’s legs without their consent, illegal in the United Kingdom. As a victim of this form of sexual harassment, her words were powerful and meaningful.
Vibeke Brask Thomsen, founder of SheCanHeCan, spoke to the crowd before presenting a video created for the new campaign, asking her guests to be part of the solution of working toward gender equality worldwide together. The video included support and words from government officials, sport personalities, and members of other institutions.
The inaugural Equality Pledge Awards were presented to two women who have exemplified the mission for gender equality: Gemma Griffiths, who was given the prize for Student of the year, and Celine Cottalorda, for Advocate of the year.
Additionally, the association debuted it’s new fundraising strategy, based on the population of Monaco. They are asking for a €1 donation for each of the Principality’s residents to make a total of €38,695 to put toward the creation of an “Equality Toolkit”. The Mairie took the lead by generously donating on behalf of every municipal employee.
The evening’s finale was highlighted by a speech delivered by Gilles Tonelli, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, who pointed out the steps the government is taking and will continue to take to change attitudes and assist in making gender equality a priority.
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