Organisers of this year’s Clean Equity forum have managed to reschedule the event for later in the year, however the team behind Top Marques have not been so lucky.
Clean Equity, featuring up to 30 of the world’s best in next generation sustainable technology companies, has announced that the forum will take place at the Fairmont Hotel on 22nd and 23rd October. It was scheduled for 25th March.
Supported by the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation and the Monaco Economic Board, the forum serves as a platform for companies to present their sustainable visions and to network with prominent financial, strategic, sovereign, corporate and family investors, government officials and end users. This will mark its 13th edition in the Principality.
On the same day that Clean Equity announced it had managed to reschedule its forum, Top Marques revealed that its 2020 high-profile car event would regrettably be cancelled.
The 17th edition of Top Marques was due to take place from 10th to 14th June at the Grimaldi Forum. It will now be held in 2021 from 9th to 13th June.
“The health of our teams, exhibitors, sponsors, partners and visitors is our priority, and the conditions will not be met for the show to go ahead as usual in June,” said organiser Salim Zeghdar. “But the party will only be more beautiful in 2021, with our new space dedicated to classic cars which will complete our offer.”
More than 50 iconic sports cars from the 50s to the 90s will be on display and for sale in the Grimaldi Forum as part of the trade show, which is billed as the most exclusive automobile show in the world.
Since the first edition in 2004, more than one hundred new models have made their debut on to the global supercar stage at Top Marques. The show has also become synonymous with cutting-edge technology with many manufacturers from as far Australia and the Far East launching their ground-breaking inventions in Monaco.
Tickets already purchased for this year’s Top Marques event will be reimbursed from the various networks where they were reserved (Grimaldi Forum and Fnac Spectacles). They can also be kept for use in 2021.
Monaco’s longest standing event on sustainable mobility and renewable energy sources, EVER Monaco, will still take place this year, albeit four months after its original date in May.
As the list of cancelled events in the Principality grows, it’s a pleasure to see some are being simply postponed. One such event is EVER Monaco, the Ecologic Vehicles, Renewable Energies forum which is now set to be held from 10th September at the Grimaldi Forum.
The decision was taken to ensure the safety of visitors, exhibitors and staff and to lessen the risk of being forced to cancel outright.
The event is now in its 15th year and is organised by the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, the Monegasque Society for Electricity and Gas (SMEG) and the Prince’s government.
“We made this responsible decision for the obvious reasons of protecting people in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic,” said Bernard Fautrier, President of EVER. “We are going through an extraordinarily difficult period for all and hope that the month of September will allow us to find ourselves serenely. I thank our partners and our exhibitors for the confidence they have shown in us, and for their commitment alongside us.”
Exhibitors from the sustainable car and two-wheeled vehicles industries have been taking part in the event since the start, and 2018 saw the addition of boating players. The modes of transport being showcased are all alternatives to fossil fuel-based vehicles and are in compliance with the Monegasque government’s energy transition plans.
Though the dates have changed, the schedule of events has not. There will be a sustainable boat section, made possible with the cooperation of the Monaco Yacht Club, where the future of electric boating will be on display. A Start-Up Area for young entrepreneurs wishing to attend, round table discussions and scientific conferences will also be held throughout.
The METHA EUROPE competition (Energy Management in Transport and Housing) organised by the schools of the Institut Télécom Mines (IMT) has been postponed to accommodate the new dates, allowing a new 21stJune deadline for applicants.
Finally, EVER Monaco will be the finish line for the Riviera Electric Challenge. This rally, reserved exclusively for electric vehicles, will leave from Cagnes sur Mer on the 10th, arriving the following day in Monaco after a stopover in Dolceacqua, Italy.
Lest the denizens of Monaco go without their favourite souffle, sushi or burger during lockdown, there’s an App grouping together a great selection of Monaco restaurants to help keep bellies full and support local businesses.
For many, the mandatory closure of restaurants in Monaco in mid-March due to the health crisis want tantamount to disaster. Being able to enjoy the culinary delights of the Principality was a right many took for granted. Not being able to partake left many panicky diners wondering, “What’s for dinner…and breakfast and lunch?”, especially those not skilled in kitchen arts.
Carloapp provides users in Monaco with a platform of restaurants who are offering their favourite dishes without breaking the rules of confinement. All that is required of customers is to create the ambiance at home, and voila! It’s almost as if life was back to normal…Except for the kids screaming in the background.
Participating restaurants can be found at: https://carloapp.com/restaurants-livraison/
The variety of options is impressive with pizza and burgers being prominent but by no means the only choices. Cipriani, Maison des Pâtes and Pacific are delivering for those looking for higher end fare. Japanese, Italian, Chinese, smoothies and desserts like pastries and gelato can all be delivered right to doorsteps all over Monaco. Even bottles of wine can be brought in this way.
So, if the thought of another night of pasta with butter is enough to make even the kids turn their noses up, treat yourself and try ordering in. It’s also a great way to support businesses in Monaco during the current crisis.
The Ballets de Monte Carlo is televising La Belle, a full-length ballet, on Saturday evening via two media outlets to entertain lockdown crowds all over the region.
If people can’t attend the ballet, let the ballet come to the people. On Saturday 11th April the Ballets de Monte Carlo will be televising La Belle at 5pm on both Monaco Info channel and France 3 PACA TV.
For those not in the area but still wishing to be a part of the magic, the ballet will be streamed live on the websites of both channels. Monaco Info’s link can be found on https://bit.ly/2JI8nO6 and France 3’s on https://bit.ly/39MTft9.
The ballet, choreographed by long-time director and choreographer to the Ballets de Monte Carlo Jean-Christophe Maillot, and set to Tchaïkovski’s haunting music, is a beautiful and thought-provoking twist on the classic fairy tale, Sleeping Beauty.
The story revolves around her life and mimics the rites of passage most women go through in their lives. Based on the lesser-known second half of the story, the part after Sleeping Beauty is awoken by her prince, it tells of how life was not happily-ever-after. The girl, now Queen, is threatened by her stepmother, the sorceress Maleficent.
Wicked to her core, Maleficent is the personification of unpleasantness within the story.
“Maleficent is like a magnet, sucking in all of our fears and taboos,” said Maillot of his character’s portrayal. “I created an androgynous, ambiguous being that is far from a straightforward symbol, and that might be a potential partner for Sleeping Beauty. Although the character embodies evil, evil is nevertheless difficult to define. My ballets always reject Manichaeism, the concept of evil versus good.”
La Belle is portrayed by Olga Smirnova wearing costumes from the 2016 production and the ballet is one hour 50 minutes in duration.
As the number of coronavirus cases across the world nears 1.5 million, it is clear we are all living in unfamiliar times and trying to cope with fear and confinement as best we can. One thing that I am sure paralyses many of us with fear is the idea of us and our loved ones getting sick. This is what happened to me two months ago…
As some of you know from my previous articles in Monaco Life or social media, I was chosen last year to be part of the eXXpedition crew to sail and research plastics in the ocean between Galapagos and Easter Island. The navigation in the Pacific was taking place from 15th February until 4th March 2020. It was an incredible opportunity, as I was selected from more than 10,000 candidates and the only representative from Monaco. I spent most of last year preparing for this voyage, creating the Ocean Amazon platform to engage as many people as possible in following the adventure. I planned to start my trip on 2nd February (which was 0202.2020 – what a memorable date!) taking me to Ecuador, spending few days in Quito and then arriving at Galapagos where the Ocean Amazon adventure was truly set to begin.
As the departure date was nearing, I remember being so careful about staying healthy and boosting my immunity. In January I didn’t travel anywhere; I turned down friends who were inviting me snowboarding as I didn’t want to risk not being healthy for my trip.
But just two days before I left, I went to the Monaco Yacht Club gym for one last training (yes, I wanted to be in top form too) and afterwards, a few member friends insisted I have a drink with them. They wanted to celebrate my upcoming trip and wouldn’t take no for an answer. The workout was intense (thank you Bouba) and I was still very sweaty and had no other clothes to change into, so I we went straight to the bar and had few drinks. By the time I got home and took a shower, changing in to dry clothes, it was too late. I realised this the next day when I felt feverish and had a strong pain in my chest. This was also the day before I left! My friend had to help me pack for my five-week voyage as I was struggling, feeling sick and weak. I took cold medicine, some homeopathic remedies too and hoped for the best for my trip.
I left on 02.02.2020 right on schedule, smiling for social media and my sponsors and friends who supported me in this adventure, but I could feel my body struggling with every single move I was making. I flew from Nice to Paris and then boarded the 13-hour flight to Quito, Ecuador. You know how these long haul flights are, you never get enough water, the air is too cold, it’s hard to find a comfortable position to rest for too long. By the time I landed, I was sick beyond words. It is a blur to me now, how I got from the airport to the hotel, the check-in and to sleep. All I remember is waking up at about 4am that night in a wet bed because of my fever, with strong chest pain and almost suffocating.
Quito is the world capital with the highest altitude at 2,800m. I could hardly breathe and my voice was so weak. As I was becoming aware of my condition, I knew that I needed to call a doctor. I remember going through my symptoms and then suddenly becoming paralysed with fear, as I realised that I tick all the boxes for coronavirus. At the time, the virus was pretty much contained to Wuhan and only few cases were starting to emerge in Europe. It was clear to me what made me sick (yeah, basically my stupidity to carry on with wet clothes) and not an infection caused by a virus.
But in my mind, I could already see a doctor examining me and, as my Spanish is not that great, his alarm bells would be ringing: just travelled by plane from Europe, fever, chest pain, influenza, difficulty breathing. CORONA! And being zealous, he would organise for me to be taken on a 14 day quarantine. I could imagine the hazmat suits arriving, the ambulance taking me to an isolated unit of a hospital, missing the trip of a lifetime, for which I had prepared a whole year.
I didn’t know at the time that there were tests which could tell if I was carrying the virus or not, so only judging by the symptoms I was so afraid that a doctor would conclude I was sick and change my life. Of course, if indeed I was carrying the virus, my rightful place would be in quarantine and not in contact with people I could contaminate.
I was in hell for the next few hours, physically and also tormented by my fear of being declared Ecuador’s first corona case. I did call my friend in Monaco and shared what I was going through and was comforted. This helped a lot.
The next day, I was supposed to go for lunch with the dean of the University of San Francisco in Quito (USFQ) and a couple of professors of the environmental masters program. One of the goals of my voyage was to connect with the university and hopefully create a bridge with the University of Monaco (IUM) – of which I am an alumni – and engage students to apply for the Ocean Protection Challenge.
Of course, in the morning I sent a message letting them know I was feeling sick and needed to cancel. Diego Quiroga, the dean of Scientific Programs and External Affairs of USFQ, immediately offered to send a doctor from their medical campus clinic to examine me. Thanks to him, not only did I have a thorough examination from one of their top doctors in the clinic, but was also given oxygen for few hours. Of course, I was given the clear with respect to corona, and administered normal cold medication. By the next day I was already feeling better, no more fever and gaining in strength, allowing me to properly visit the campus and learn more about the extraordinary achievements of USFQ. I am truly grateful for the generosity and kindness of everyone I met there and the care and professionalism shown to me.
Now, being confined at home in Monaco and speaking on the phone with friends, we often talk about our fears of either getting sick, or our dear ones becoming casualties of this invisible killer. I look back at my experience in Quito and the important lessons I learned:
I focused on what was the best course of action and the immediate things I could do.
There will always be amazing humans, total strangers or friends who will help.
Acknowledge that being afraid is normal, it is what makes us human. But staying in fear is paralysing and you cannot focus. Back to first lesson.
Take good care of yourselves, keep well and healthy!
Irina aka Ocean Amazon Please follow my @oceanamazon profile on Instagram and Facebook if you want to learn more about my voyage.
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Of course, I was given the clear with respect to corona, and administered normal cold medication. By the next day I was already feeling better, no more fever and gaining in strength, allowing me to properly visit the campus and learn more about the extraordinary achievements of USFQ. I am truly grateful for the generosity and kindness of everyone I met there and the care and professionalism shown to me.