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Day: 17 December 2019

Pyrros Dimas awarded in Monaco

by: Cassandra Tanti
17/12/2019

Pyrros Dimas, the legendary three-times gold and one-time bronze Olympic champion, has been awarded the ‘Great Athlete’ distinction by the Hellenic Community of Monaco.

The award was given on Thursday 12th December in the presence of the Honorary Consul of Greece in Monaco Petros Machas and the Honorary Consul of Albania in Monaco, Marquis Giuseppe Durazzo.

President of the Hellenic Community of Monaco Sophia Vaharis Tsouvelekakis awarded the world champion and record-breaking Greek athlete for his great contribution to sports and philanthropy. She also appointed him as an honorary member of the Hellenic Community in Monaco.

Pyrros Dimas is the Founder and President of the International Pyrros Dimas Institute, which leads sports projects for unaccompanied minors in cooperation with SOS Villages, provides educational programs for the value of sports in schools around Greece, supports athletes and is involved in the the organisation of weightlifting competitions. Mr. Dimas thanked the Hellenic Community for the warm Greek hospitality offered to him during his stay and for this exceptional award that will add value to his efforts to contribute more to vulnerable societies through the power of sport.

Pyrros Dimas had been invited to participate the 2019 Peace And Sport International Forum, which took place at the Convention Center of the One Monte Carlo, in the presence of HSH Prince Albert II.

Peace And Sport, an independent and neutral organisation based in Monaco, through its founder and President Joël Bouzou, is leading the ‘Peace through Sport’ movement and organised the 2019 forum and the 10th annual Champions For Peace Gala. This year, many important personalities from all over the world, heads of States, ministers, presidents, famous athletes, Nobel prize laurates and high-level guests participated in open discussions to present how the power of sport creates peace and happiness to communities around the world.

Hellenic Community member and International Relations and Sport Diplomacy Director at Peace And Sport Iris Vlachoutsicos was also involved in the organisation and coordinated the visit and activities of Mr. Dimas in Monaco.

Photo from left to right: Sophia Vaharis Tsouvelekakis, President Communauté Hellénique de Monaco; Ursula Garza Papandrea, President of USA Weightlifting Federation and VP of the International Weightlifting federation; Pyrros Dimas; Petros Machas, Honorary General Consul of Greece in Monaco; and Iris Vlachoutsicos, International Relations & Sport Diplomacy Director at Peace And Sport 

Commuters more prepared for train strikes

by: Stephanie Horsman
17/12/2019

As the SNCF strike rages on in France, workers travelling into Monaco each day – around 45,000 on average – are taking steps to lessen the burden on congested roadways and finding alternative ways to navigate their way to the Principality.

In the past, when the trains in France went on strike, access into and out of Monaco was virtually crippled, particularly during the morning and evening rush hours. Interestingly, this latest strike, which has been going on since 5th December, is only creating delays of 5 to 10 minutes from the motorway into town.

Why? Because the savvy commuters of today opts for solutions other than simply jumping into their cars and going it alone. They choose to carpool, use two wheel modes of transport or telecommute, rendering this strike far less intrusive on the daily lives of workers than in the past. 

The Management Centre for Mobility (CIGM), the bureau that provides 24/7 road surveillance in the Principality, has stated that whilst it is slightly more difficult to enter Monaco, the density of traffic is not that much more than the norm.

This is a huge difference than in the past and can partially be put down to the habits being formed by a newly environmentally-sensitive population. Commuters have been trying out alternative forms of transport over the last year or two and are much less averse now as a result. This newfound flexibility has spilled over into times of trouble, like now, to the benefit of all, except perhaps the strikers whose impact is not being felt as keenly as hoped.

But calls are being made for further measures. Philippe Ortelli, the President of the Federation des Entreprises Monegasques (FEDEM), has long been an advocate of creating a completely different way to enter the Principality, namely an interurban metro system between Nice and Monaco.

His idea, which he editorialised on FEDEM’s website in July of this year, is to connect to the existing tram in Nice East and build a tunnel that would run all the way to Monaco, with a single stop in Éze, and that would take only eight minutes to arrive to either destination.

He argues that the line would reduce traffic problems, be a greener alternative for employees and would pay for itself after a hundred years.

In the meantime, Monaco’s employees will have to wait and see, and hope for an early Christmas present in the form of a settled strike.

 

 

Public transport to be streamlined

by: Cassandra Tanti
17/12/2019

Monaco is teaming up with transport operators in the Alpes Maritimes to provide a new multi-pass for passengers. It’s hoped the initiative will encourage more people to choose public transport over cars and thereby reduce their environmental impact.

The ‘Pass Transport Sud Azur’ was launched on Monday 16th December by President of the Côte d’Azur Metropolis Christian Estrosi and a host of dignitaries, alongside Monaco’s Minister of Equipment, Environment and Town Planning Marie-Pierre Gramaglia.

Marie-Pierre Gramaglia at the Pass Transport Sud Azur launch © DR

The pass will be available to the public from 1st January 2020 and is designed to be an attractive alternative to the use of cars, giving people unlimited travel on all public transport networks – bus, train and tram. By offering the pass on a monthly subscription basis, it will be cheaper than the sum of the various subscriptions.

From 1st September 2020, the pass will also include Monaco’s bus network.

“The Principality is aiming to reduce traffic by around 20% by 2030,” said Marie-Pierre Gramaglia during the presentation. “As a result, it encourages multimodal transport options and trains. We are committed, alongside the Alpes-Maritimes region, to participating in the financing of the TER through an annual contribution of €8 million, corresponding to approximately 50% of the total contribution intended for the 13,000 beneficiaries of TER tariff reductions for travel to or from Monaco.”

Ms. Gramaglia also encouraged the use of the CARF bus lines and the regional 100 bus connecting Nice to Menton via Monaco. “These are important regular lines that we support through a financial contribution,” she said. “The Pass Transport Sud Azur is an additional opportunity that invites everyone to use all modes of public transport with greater ease.”

 

 

AMADE and MonacoTech join forces

by: Cassandra Tanti
17/12/2019

AMADE and MonacoTech have launched a mobile app that will help protect children on the African continent and provide them with access to education and health services.

Called ‘Tech 4 Child’, the digital platform will be used to promote partnerships among financial institutions, philanthropists, NGO’s and the like, to develop mobile applications for children.

Through its Energy of Hope program, AMADE promotes access to energy as a lever for development, notably through digital inclusion. As part of this program, it is supporting the development of a range of mobile apps capable of responding to the challenges faced by children, particularly in Africa. These include literacy, the fight against maternal and infant mortality, birth registration and the fight against sexual violence.

According to the Monaco government, the initiative has seen some encouraging early results, particularly in terms of sustainability and impact.

AMADE was founded in 1963 on the initiative of Princess Grace of Monaco and is based on the idea that “all children, whatever their social, religious or cultural origins, should live in dignity, in security, and in respect of their fundamental rights, and every child has the opportunity to fully express their potential.”

MonacoTech, the government’s incubation and acceleration program, selects innovative companies with high potential (15 companies to date) with the objective of establishing them in the Principality in a sustainable manner while having a strong international ambition.

 

 

Living La Dolce Vita at the Bal de Noël

by: Cassandra Tanti
17/12/2019

Classic Italian glamour was the theme of this year’s Bal de Noël on Saturday night, and privileged guests certainly embraced the concept with all the beauty and class that has come to be expected at this highly-anticipated Christmas party.

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The bubbles flowed as soon as guests stepped into the stunning Empire Room of the Hôtel de Paris, their glasses filled with Victoria Silvstedt’s very own Prosecco – Victoria La Dolce Vita.

Victoria Silvstedt and her branded prosecco at the Bal de Noël

It was a sign of things to come for the “lucky few” who graced the invitation-only ball, which itself was themed ‘La Dolce Vita’ – inspired by the famous Italian film and the great actors and actresses of that era.

Featuring throughout the beautiful, gilded Belle Epoque hall of the Hôtel de Paris were portraits of Sophia Loren, Anita Ekberg, Claudia Cardinale and Marcello Mastroianni.

Bal de Noël founder Sandrine Knoell Garbagnati

Victoria Silvstedt and Sandrine Knoell Garbagnati, founder of the event, looked stunning in their Ali Karoui dresses.

Victoria Silvstedt

Held under the High Patronage of H.S.H. Princess Charlene of Monaco and in the presence of Gareth Wittstock, Secretary General of the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation, the ball was also set against a backdrop of fine jewellery created by Akillis.

Gareth Wittstock and his wife Roisin Galvin

Among the personalities present were HRH Princess Camilla of Bourbon of the Two Sicilies, Lady Monika del Campo Bacardi of Bayfield Hall, Marquise Roberta Gilardi Sestito, Inna Maier, Donatella Campioni, Elizabeth Wessel and Celina Lafuente of Lavotha as well as German fashion designer Philipp Plein and Christian Moore, president of the Monaco Ambassadors Club.

Lady Monika del Campo Bacardi of Bayfield Hall
Mark Daeche and Christian Moore

A raffle by Sotheby’s raised more than 65,000€ for the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation, while its ‘International Committee for Action’ was honoured for efforts to save lives by preventing drowning and for promoting the values ​​of sport among children.

Alessandra and Francesco Sparaco
H.R.H. Princess Camilla and H.R.H. Prince Charles of Bourbon Two Sicilies with their daughters

As always, DJ Andrea T Mendoza ignited the dance floor and ended the evening on an electric high.

Sandrine Knoell and guests at the Bal de Noël 2019

The Bal de Noël is an invitation only event organised by Five Stars Events. Since its inauguration in 2006, the ball has raised 717,000€ for charity.

Photos: Claudia Alberqerque / Nico Timmermans for Monaco Life. All rights reserved. 

 

Read more:

Interview: Victoria Silvstedt

 

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Monaco’s kids enjoy annual Arbres de Noël Christmas

by: Stephanie Horsman
17/12/2019

Espace Léo Ferré has been converted into a veritable Christmas Town for the children of Monaco as part of the end of year celebrations hosted by the Mairie.

Over three days last week, Mayor Georges Marsan and several representatives from the Mairie welcomed children of the Principality to join them in this Social Action Service-organised event.

 

Wednesday 11th December was dedicated to the tiniest tots, Monaco’s nursery school children, who were delighted by the unveiling of the first of three Christmas trees. The second evening was for the benefit of the children of municipal employees, where they got to witness the second tree. The grand finale was on Friday, with the reveal of the 2019 Christmas Tree of the City, a much-loved and anticipated event every year in the Principality.

Like in previous years, the Social Action Service transformed the Espace Léo Ferré with glittering garland, cheerful decorations, an alley of fir trees and a vast selection of games for the kids, including such favourites as duck fishing, balloon sculptures, make-up workshops, and bouncy castles.

 

Popcorn and pancakes filled bellies and when all was said and done, over 40 litres of pancake batter was made.

By the end of the third day, over 800 children had visited the Christmas town and received a souvenir photo with Santa Claus.

 

Photos: copyright – Mairie de Monaco