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Month: July 2020

Indoor karting returns

by: Stephanie Horsman
29/07/2020

The karting season has resumed in the Principality, only this summer the track has been set up in its winter location under the Oceanographic Museum.

With all the cancellations this summer, it’s nice to hear about something that is actually going ahead. A karting circuit has now been set up by Karting Indoor Monaco in the Parking des Pêchers located under the Oceanographic Museum on the Rock.

Normally, summer karting happens on the Quai Albert 1er, but due to the many event cancellations this summer, the parking lot is available for use. As it is a covered area, the location is ideal for getting out of the sweltering summer sun while still having fun.  

The circuit has been redesigned this year and now features a reception area and outdoor stands so the route could be made longer. Even better, the organisers have said they are going to prolong the summer karting season to meet up with the winter one, if all goes well. This will mean karting fans can enjoy the track until the end of February.

The track will be open from Tuesdays to Sundays starting at 3pm and running until midnight, and is a great activity to do with the whole family.

The organisers have taken all the necessary sanitary measures to ensure safety. To that end, they will disinfect the karts and helmets after each use. They will also offer balaclavas for sale to be worn under the helmets for added protection.

During the school holidays in August, October, December and February, an academy will be set up for aspiring drivers. These training sessions will be on offer for a day or a week during the usual business hours.

 

PHOTO: ©kartingindoormonaco

 

Mediapro launching Téléfoot network in August

by: Stephanie Horsman
29/07/2020

Sino-Spanish company Mediapro will be launching a new pay channel called Téléfoot on 17th August, a full four days ahead of the resumption of French Ligue 1 play.

It’s official! Téléfoot will be the premiere network for French Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 football matches and will launch on 17th August. The new network has also been approved to co-broadcast, along with RMC Sport, the Champions League and the Europa League games for one season. Additionally, there will be a streaming service where interested internet users can register early. 

For a start, only SFR boxes will be able to carry the channel, as Altice, the parent company of RMC, owns SFR’s linear and digital broadcast platforms. To secure the contract, Mediapro has purportedly waived a €100 million standard carriage fee for SFR and has agreed to a simple revenue share for Téléfoot.

“We are where we need to be,” said Jaumes Roures, President of Mediapro at a press conference earlier this week.

Service costs €25.90 per month as a subscriber with a one year contract and €29.90 without the contract and with a guarantee of immediate stoppage of payment if league play is cancelled again due to the health crisis. 

The deal between Mediapro and Altice lessens the financial burden on Altice which is reportedly paying €350 million in right’s fees. Mediapro may be paying for half the matches.

The first Ligue 1 match to be televised will be between St-Etienne and OM on Friday, 21st August at 7pm at the Vélodrome.

 
 

Local designer takes home Princess' Tesla

by: Cassandra Tanti
29/07/2020

Monaco Life’s very own web developer Jean-Paul Goodwin, from the Design Centre in Monaco, has been handed the keys to Princess Charlene’s Tesla, after a successful bid during her foundation’s charity drive.
Princess Charlene donated the Tesla Model S P85 to her foundation in South Africa to auction off as part of its #Strongtogether fundraising event, launched in mid-June.
Other items up for grabs included a pair of signed bobsledding shoes worn by Prince Albert when he competed in the 2002 Winter Olympics and a portrait of Princess Charlene painted by Conor McCreedy.
Money raised from the auction will be used to support individuals in South Africa who are impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The lucky bidders were announced this week by the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation South Africa, with Jean-Paul Goodwin, Managing Director of Monaco-based Design Centre, taking the top item.

The car was reportedly a gift from Prince Albert II of Monaco in 2015 and was held “very close to her heart”. It features a gold plaque officiating the vehicle as the former property of Princess Charlene.
“We saw an article about the auction on Monaco Life and we’ve dreamed about having a Tesla ever since they were launched, but we have never been in a position to acquire one for ourselves up until now,” Jean-Paul Goodwin told Monaco Life. “Not only did we want to bid on the Tesla but primarily we wanted to show our support for the Foundation and its life saving work.”
The Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation was established in 2012 to help save lives by raising awareness about the prevention of drowning and teaching children how to swim.
The Princess’ next major project is ‘The Crossing: Calvi-Monaco Water Bike Challenge’, an ambitious 180-kilometre adventure across the Mediterranean. It will entail two teams of four internationally renowned athletes taking turns biking from Calvi in northwest Corsica to the Yacht Club of Monaco.

This week, the Princess shared a video of her training for the September challenge. Earlier this month, she was joined by UFC lightweight champion Conor McGregor, who will also be competing in the upcoming challenge.
 
Related stories:
Boxer and Princess team up for charity
Princess hands over car for charity auction
 
 

Photos: UPAW 2020

by: Cassandra Tanti
28/07/2020

The 4th edition of the urban art project UPAW has been deemed another great success, combining urban art and preservation of the Planet in Monaco under this year’s theme: A Free Mediterranean.
Urban Painting Around the World (UPAW) made its mark on Monaco between 18th and 20th July with a live street art show in front of the Oceanographic Museum featuring artists Mr Oneteas, Dario Vella, Jazi, Ashpe, Pheno and Dave Baranes.
The artists had the opportunity to present their works to Prince Albert II of Monaco, each bearing a clear message on the preservation of the Mediterranean.
A piece by Dave Baranes, for example, highlighted the fact that a whale was found with 100 kilograms of plastic in its stomach, and that there will be more plastic than fish in the ocean within 30 years if drastic action isn’t taken.

Painting by Dave Baranes

Meanwhile, a silent auction raised €12,000 for the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation’s Beyond Plastic Med – BeMed initiative, which strives for a plastic-free Mediterranean.
“Many thanks to UPAW for their continued support towards the Foundation’s conservation actions,” said the Prince’s Foundation on social media, “and congratulations to the artists who, each year, contribute to raising awareness on the stakes related to environment protection, thanks to their talent.”
 
See the photos below, click to enlarge…

 
 
Photos © Axel Bastello
 
 

Outdoor heater ban

by: Staff Writer
28/07/2020

France plans to ban heaters used by restaurants and cafes on outdoor terraces from early next year, as it accelerates a shift to a low-carbon economy, the government said.
Because the ban could impact a sector hard-hit by the coronavirus crisis, it will not come into force until after the end of the coming winter to give business time to adapt.
“What’s at stake is ending ecologically aberrant practices that lead to totally unjustified energy consumption,” Environment Minister Barbara Pompili said on French TV.
On 1st January, Rennes became the first French city to ban heated terraces. Environmental NGOs estimate that France has least 12,500 heated terraces.
“This is a courageous decision,” said Thierry Salomon of energy conservation group NegaWatt, adding that in northern European countries with far colder climates, restaurants typically provide terrace clients with plaids.
He said that as some restaurants introduced terrace heating, others were forced to follow in order not to lose customers.
Negawatt estimates a 75 m2 terrace, heated with gas November to March, emits as much CO2 as a car circling the earth three times.
Restaurants say the ban will add to their worries.
“The timing is very bad, in the middle of the coronavirus crisis, 80% of our turnover comes from terraces now,” said restaurant owner Aurore Begue.
One Parisian enjoying a sunny terrace was less worried.
“When heaters came, it was progress, but really, we do not need them. We can put on a coat or sweater,” said Marie-Laure Bonnot, 77.
Some restaurant owners too were philosophical.
“This is a measure that could be expected, and, given the climate situation, it is hard to oppose it,” said Stephane Malchow of brasserie Mollard.
Paris hotel and restaurant trade group GNI’s Romain Vidal said the industry would find better ways to heat terraces, using efficient heaters, certified renewable energy and wind shields to reduce heat loss.
“France created the terrace culture. We need to continue that culture without damaging the planet,” he said.
(Reuters)
 

Government in talks with Monacair

by: Stephanie Horsman
28/07/2020

Struggling Monegasque company Monacair has met with the government to discuss future plans.

The Minister of Social Affairs and Health, Didier Gamerdinger, along with the Department of Labour and the Department of Equipment and Town Planning met with representatives of Monacair on Monday to talk about the social plan announced by the company.  

The meeting focused primarily on the number of jobs that will be affected and the accompanying measures that the company intends to implement. In a press statement, Mr Gamerdinger said he will be paying close attention to the negotiations.

Monacair shocked the Principality when earlier this month, the company announced it was being forced to lay-off 32 of its 76 person workforce due to fall out from the Covid crisis. The reduction affected pilots and ground staff alike and spurred the government to intervene to assist the company in sorting out a “social plan” to restructure the company.  

Since 2016, Monacair has been the sole operator of regular transport services between the Principality and Nice Airport. As such, their reduction in service has also resulted in a massive loss in passengers and revenue.

Monacair was founded in 1988 by Stefano Casiraghi, former husband of Princess Caroline, who was tragically killed in a speed boating accident in 1990. Today, his sons, Andrea and Pierre are the majority shareholders in the company.

 

Photo © Department of Social Affairs and Health