Hockey legends and amateur hockey buffs will hit the ice for ‘The Last Game’ hockey match to heighten awareness about the rapid degradation of the world’s polar regions.
‘The Last Game’, organised by the Prince Albert II Foundation, the City of Monaco and the Monegasque Skating Federation, will take place on Wednesday 12th February at the ice rink on Quai Albert 1er.
The event is part of a series of games put on by Russian hockey legend Slava Fetisov with the help of the United Nations and the Holy See to alert the public of the dire situation in the polar regions. Ice is melting due to climate change at an alarmingly fast rate, endangering the fragile ecosystem, displacing or killing indigenous animals and putting the world’s population at risk.
It is currently estimated that if the current rate of melt, the Arctic could experience ice-free summers as early as 2040. This vast influx of additional water being added to the seas would of course impact the entire globe, causing mass destruction of coastal areas and changing weather patterns.
Another hockey legend, two time Olympic gold-medalist Viatcheslav Bykov, will also be in attendance alongside players from the Monaco Barracudas hockey club.
The game starts at 5:30pm and will be followed by a masterclass led by players from the Russian team.
The International School of Monaco has launched a new International Baccalaureate Programme focused on practical skills for 16-year-olds entering the final two years of school.
As a complement to the school’s successful International Baccalaureate Diploma programme (IBDP), which it has been running for 20 years, the IBCP (Career-Related) Programme will offer an exciting alternative to the IBDP. It will be available for September 2020.
Intended for students whose skills are practical and vocational, rather than purely academic, the IBCP provides entry pathways to universities in a wide range of courses, with more emphasis on practical skills.
Fully accredited by the International Baccalaureate organisation and Pearson International BTEC Diplomas, the IBCP will complement the current IBDP Programme.
Students joining the IBCP will work alongside the school’s IBDP students in two or more courses while following their own specific studies and work placements.
An information session for prospective students and parents will take place at the International School of Monaco, Cafeteria, 16 quai Antoine 1er, on Thursday February 13th at 8.30am. All are welcome to attend.
For further information, email hannah.gettel@ismonaco.com
For an entire month, the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco is offering a special deal where for each paying adult, one child gets in free.
As the school holidays approach, the question of what to do with the kids certainly is at the forefront of every parent’s mind. This year, the Oceanographic Museum can help solve that problem, at least for a day.
From 8th February to 8th March, for every adult who buys a full price €16 entry, an accompanying child gets in for free. The offer applies for kids aged 4 to17.
Visitors will be able to enjoy the wonders of the sea in the museum’s main halls, plus join in on other activities. Children will be able to feed the fish, caress a real starfish or baby shark in the touch pool, watch a light show bringing alive the iconic skeletons of the whales and the narwhal suspended from the museum’s ceilings and get immersed in a virtual reality moment.
Photo courtesy Oceanographic Museum of Monaco
In addition, 6 to 12 year olds will also get to participate in the museum’s popular temporary exhibit, Odyssey of the Sea Turtle. This interactive experience guides kids through a route set up on the first floor where they will discover these amazing migratory animals, learning about their life spans, their habits and the threats that are being posed to their existence.
Kids will search for “clues” to complete a series of missions, all the while being made aware of how to protect these sea creatures. At the end, a “turtle Guardian Diploma” will be handed out, validated by the museum’s team.
It is a fun day out as much for adults as for kids, so take advantage of the offer and learn about our amazing seas.
Monaco’s newest citizens have been welcomed in an official ceremony at the Mairie.
Each year, the Mayor of Monaco along with members of the Municipal Council gather every person who obtained Monegasque nationality from the previous year together to celebrate the occasion.
On Wednesday 5th February, 54 out of the 84 people who were granted citizenship in the Principality in 2019 were received at the Mairie for a heartfelt reception.
Mayor Georges Marsan, wished them all a warm “welcome to the great Monegasque family”.
“Acquiring a nationality, and in this case, Monegasque nationality, is not a simple administrative formality,” said the mayor. “It is not isn’t just a passport and benefits. To become Monegasque is to adhere to our culture, our traditions and our numerous particularities. It is to adhere to a community united around our Sovereign and his family, to which we are all very attached.”
Mayor Marsan went on to detail the history of Monaco’s oldest institution, the Mairie, also called the House of Monegasques, as well as explain its function within the context of the state’s societal framework and its major functions.
The ceremony ended with the Monegasque Anthem being sung by choir students from the Rainier III Academy followed by a presentation to each new citizen of a selection of symbolic gifts, such as a reproduction of the anthem, a handwritten document written by poet Louis Notari, a lithograph and a CD of traditional Monegasque songs.
Monaco’s Irina Peterson reports on her adventure of a lifetime to help save the Oceans.
February 4th: Quito
Quito met the highest expectations! When I say “highest”, it is also because its at a 2,800m altitude. Arriving after a long journey from Monaco, my adjustment here was a bit difficult. I was gasping for air every few steps I took, but what an interesting place. The old colonial town is a beautiful architectural collection of churches, cathedrals and state buildings. I should have had more time to visit, take time and learn all the great history of this lovely part of Quito.
The highlight of my stay in Quito was a visit to San Francisco University (USFQ) and meeting the Dean of Scientific Programs, Research and External Affairs Diego Quiroga. He is also the Director of the Galapagos Campus, a four-year master program in Environment and Sustainability.
Stay tuned for my post on 14th of February from Galapagos and you will learn more about this project and the bridge we are creating with Monaco. Diego has many reasons to be proud of what USFQ has achieved in its three decades of existence. With a campus of over 8,000 students, it is truly one of the best universities in South America. Here are some pictures from my visit on the campus.
February 6: Discovering the Charles Darwin Foundation
It is a dream came true … arriving in Galapagos and being surrounded by all its incredibly rich nature! I made a few friends among the giant land tortoises – this one I named Sancho. He is huge and about 100 years old.
It was very exciting to finally arrive at the Charles Darwin Foundation, where I was met by Maria Jose – the Science Director, together with the fundraising team and Macarena, the scientist in charge of the joint project with the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation.
I learned of the challenges experienced by the marine turtles due to the ever-increasing number of speed boats here that are responsible for most of their deaths. The two foundations have jointly created a program to track and study the behaviour of the turtles in order to limit the boat speeds and their course in specified areas. One more year of data is needed in order to establish a model which can then be implemented. Macarena’s eyes were lighting up as she was giving me all these details about the turtles behaviour.
It was then my turn to talk about my Ocean Amazon project, how I’m counting the days before meeting my SEAsters and boarding the eXXpedition boat, and how we are also contributing as “citizen scientists” to a better understanding of the plastic problem on the environment. The connection was real and words were flowing.
The day went by so quickly, far too quickly. Stay tuned, I’ll be bringing you more adventures tomorrow!
An incredible line-up of celebrities joined Prince Albert in celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Monte-Carlo Television Festival in Los Angeles on Wednesday night.
A star-studded reception was held at the historic Sunset Tower Hotel in Los Angeles, the first of many events to mark the 60th edition of the Monte-Carlo Television Festival, which is set to take place from 19th to 23rd June 2020.
Among the A-list guests on Wednesday were Joan Collins, Linda Gray, Sophia Hutchins, Caitlyn Jenner, Denise Richards, Priscilla Presley, Jason Priestly and Billy Zane. Vince Vaughn and Prince Albert II. Photo: Prince’s Palace of Monaco As the Honorary President of the television festival, H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco was a key member of the celebration.“The choice of Los Angeles was natural to host this evening celebration as it represents the heart of an industry that shines around the world,” said Prince Albert. “Created in 1961 by my father, Prince Rainier III, the Monte-Carlo Television Festival celebrates excellence in international television production. Our American friends have always been faithful and present in Monaco and I am sure we will have the pleasure of welcoming them in large numbers in June.” Jane Seymore, Prince Albert and Joan Collins. Photo: Monte-Carlo Television Festival
The venue for the event – the Sunset Tower Hotel, with its illustrious history as a landmark for Los Angeles nightlife and elegant Art Deco styling – is situated in the very heart of Sunset Boulevard, and has always served as an iconic meeting point for Hollywood’s greatest stars.
250 prestigious guests, actors, actresses, directors, producers, as well as former jury presidents, winners of the Honorary Golden Nymphs and Crystal Nymphs joined His Serene Highness for an evening of glamour and style in the very best of Hollywood traditions. Dallas stars Linda Gray and Patrick Duffy. Photo courtesy: Monte-Carlo Television Festival
“The quality of our guests reinforces my conviction that the Monte-Carlo Television Festival has taken on a new dimension and has truly become a leading event in the audiovisual world,” said Laurent Puons, CEO of the Monte-Carlo Television Festival.
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