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Month: July 2020

Moreno out, Kovak in

by: Stephanie Horsman
20/07/2020

Despite a pre-season win against Bruges, AS Monaco has decided to part ways with head coach Robert Moreno after only 13 games, instead replacing him with ex-Bayern Munich coach Niko Kovac.
In a stunningly fast turn of events, AS Monaco has given walking papers to Catalan coach Robert Moreno after only seven months with the team. Management for AS Monaco cites an incongruity with Moreno’s “style of play” and the direction they want the team to head in as the reason for the split.
The decision to let Coach Moreno go comes despite a fantastic pre-season 2-0 win against Bruges at the Stade Jan-Breydel on Friday where Wissam Ben-Yedder and Aleksandr Golovin each scored in less than 10 minutes of play.
“Our paths parted sooner than expected but I would like to thank Robert Moreno for accepting the challenge,” said General Manager and Vice president of AS Monaco Oleg Petrov in a statement on the team’s website. “Together with his staff, Robert has done his utmost to improve the team, with enthusiasm and dedication of his time. I wish him all the best for the future.”
The new head coach, Niko Kovak, has signed a three-year contract with the club with an option to extend if all goes well. Croatian Kovak was part of the Croatian team that played in two World Cups, in 2004 and 2008. He went on after retirement to become the head coach of the Croatian national team between 2013 and 2015, where in 2014, he saw the team qualify for the World Cup.
He then moved on to Frankfurt until 2018 and Munich where his team won 45 out of 65 matches played.
“Niko represents the highest level of experience both as a former player and head coach,” said Paul Mitchell, AS Monaco’s Sporting Director. “His energy, his way of working and his vision of the game make him the coach the club needs to assert our ambitions and build the solid foundations to create sustainable success for the future. Welcome Niko.”
 
Photo courtesy AS Monaco 
 
 
 

Hamilton takes win in Hungary as Leclerc places 11th

by: Stephanie Horsman
20/07/2020

Lewis Hamilton has claimed victory and the points lead after a near-perfect race at the Hungarian Grand Prix on Sunday.

Mercedes took two of the top spots at the Hungaroring for the Hungarian Grand Prix over the weekend. Lewis Hamilton, well on his way to another World Championship, won his eighth victory on the track, with teammate Valtteri Bottas coming in a respectable third. Red Rull’s Max Verstappen took the silver. 

The conditions were not ideal, as the track was slippery from a deluge that ended only an hour before the race began. This clearly did not deter Hamilton who dominated the day. His fastest tour was over one second faster than Bottas and 2.5 seconds quicker than Verstappen. He was so fast, in fact, that he received an extra point for fastest lap overall, giving him a five point lead over Bottas in the standings. 

Meanwhile, Ferrari star and Monegasque pilot Charles Leclerc is having a rough go of things, finishing 11th in Hungary and 7th in overall standings. He sits with a mere 18 points to Hamilton’s 63, a gap that may seem insurmountable, but who knows what the future will bring.

On a more political note, the race featured pilots sporting Black Lives Matter tee shirts, though only Hamilton took to one knee.

 
 

Paris comes to the Hermitage for ‘one night only’

by: Cassandra Tanti
17/07/2020

The Hôtel Hermitage Monte-Carlo promised surprises when it reopened on 1st July and it hasn’t failed to deliver, announcing an exceptional evening with three Michelin star chef Yannick Alléno for one evening only.
The acclaimed chef will be recreating his Parisian restaurant Pavyllon on the terrace of the stunning Monegasque palace for a special dinner on Tuesday 21st July. It will be a unique opportunity to discover, or rediscover, the atmosphere of the Michelin starred restaurant Le Vistamar and its stunning views of the Mediterranean.
For one night only, ‘Modern Cuisine’ star Yannick Alléno will reveal his vision of French cuisine with signature dishes that have made his Parisian Pavyllon restaurant so famous.
The evening is part of the ‘Art of Living’ philosophy being championed by the Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer Group to continually provide guests with new experiences.
For the safety of its customers and staff, the Hôtel Hermitage Monte-Carlo is operating within the framework of the ‘Monte-Carlo Cares’ program, a health measure certified by the Bureau Veritas.
 
Photo courtesy SBM Monte Carlo
 
 

Summer exhibition book now available

by: Cassandra Tanti
17/07/2020

This year’s summer exhibition at the Grimaldi Forum may have been cancelled due to the Covid crisis, but everything that was set to be on show can now be seen in print with the release of GFM’s new book.
The catalogue is testimony to three years worth of work and research, listing all the vehicles and objects on the inventory for the Grimaldi Forum Monaco’s largest exhibition of the year, which was due to open for three months from 11th July.
‘Monaco and the automobile, from 1893 to today’ is now available in print form and is an “invitation to travel back in time”. It tells of the intimate relationship between the Principality and the automobile and the different themes that were to be highlighted in this year’s exhibition:
– Monaco, a major centre in automotive history;
– Prince Albert I of Monaco (1848-1922) and the mobilities of his time;
– Monte-Carlo elegance competition: automotive excellence in the Principality;
– Louis Chiron (1899-1979): the Monegasque world champion in 1928;
– Monaco and the automobile, a history of cinema;
– Presentation of 52 iconic cars from Monaco races.
The book is comprised of 312 pages and 260 illustrations, is written in both French and English, and is available at the very reasonable price of €29 (paperback version) from the Grimaldi Forum Monaco.
 
 

Jazmin Grimaldi hit with coronavirus

by: Stephanie Horsman
17/07/2020

Prince Albert’s eldest daughter Jazmin Grimaldi has revealed on Instagram that she has tested positive for Covid-19 and has been struggling through the “debilitating” symptoms of the virus. 
The 28-year-old Grimaldi took to social media on Wednesday 15th July to tell people that she was not at all surprised by the positive test result, as she had been suffering with an illness over the past few days, adding that her “hope is to help at least one person with this video.”
“I have been really cautious,” the Prince’s daughter said. “I have been social distancing. I only go out to get the groceries and I always wear a mask and I always sanitize. I hope I can help at least one person today with this personal testament because over this past week I’ve fallen really ill.”
She described her symptoms as sore throat, fever and chills followed by “debilitating” headaches that sleep did not mitigate.

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My hope is to help at least one person with this video ??. #wearamask #staysafe #pandemic #covid19

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“You don’t think it’s ever going to happen to you and I was being cautious,” she said in her video statement. “We don’t know enough, and even if we are young and resilient enough to fight it off, I don’t wish it on anyone. And we don’t know how each of our bodies is going to handle it, so I am a survivor and I’m getting through this and I’m so thankful for that. But I just wanted to share this with you to give you a little bit of a
warning and peace of mind.”
“I know a lot of us will get it,” she continued. “It’s scary and I just want everyone, especially in the United States, to take it seriously. It will continue to persist if we don’t take proper action now. It’s not political, it’s about our health.”
Her father the Prince contracted the virus four months ago and, after a brief and mild illness, made a full recovery.
 
 

Covid, controls and the economy

by: Stephanie Horsman
17/07/2020

Travellers arriving from non-Schengen and “high risk” countries may be screened for Covid-19 upon entering the Principality, according to a report from the latest Joint Monitoring Committee meeting.

The government and the National Council met on 15th July to discuss the most recent developments with regard to the pandemic and how it is affecting Monaco. The health situation remains stable with few new cases and no new hospitalisations connected to the Covid virus for the last several weeks.

The committee also recapped the results of the extra sessions of the screening campaign that ended on 14thJuly. Including those tested in the four remedial sessions, a total of 38,209 employees and residents were screened. Any further testing will now be taken over by medical professionals and pharmacies in the Principality.

Protocols for visitors coming from outside Schengen or from higher risk areas was discussed and a report from a “health/science expert” is expected within the week. Once the recommendations are reviewed, the government will lay out the plan for testing and procedures linked to these travellers when they arrive in Monaco. 

The ongoing battle over mask wearing by visitors was also touched upon. Members of the Council alerted the government that non-compliance was rife, particularly in car parks, notably at the Parking des Pêcheurs. The government has vowed to take a special look at this issue.

The economy then took over the meeting with the social plan announced in light of the recent layoffs at MonacAir, a review of the first meeting of CARE and the general resumption of activities.

The final words revolved around the agreement between the Council and the government to postpone the proposed free bus tests until September 2021.

The next meeting is to be held on 28th July.

 
Photo: Monaco’s Port Hercule by Monaco Life, all rights reserved