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Day: 15 February 2021

Italy makes last minute u-turn on opening ski resorts

by: Cassandra Tanti
15/02/2021

Ski resorts in Italy will not be able to open as planned this winter season following a last-minute backtrack by Italy’s government on the weekend.
According to a statement by the health ministry, Minister Roberto Speranza has signed a measure prolonging a ban on recreational skiing at resorts until at least 5th March.
It comes as new figures from the ISS, the country’s health agency, indicated that the British variant of the coronavirus now represents around 17.8% of new infections in Italy.
“Concern about the spread of this and other variants of SARS-CoV-2 has led to similar measures being taken in France and Germany,” the ministry said.
Italy’s northern regions were anxiously awaiting the reopening of ski resorts, announced by authorities just last week, including the nearby snow region of Limone Piemonte. The decision to open was based on favourable advice from the expert panel advising the government on the Covid-19 pandemic.
The ski industry slammed the last-minute timing of the decision, saying that they have prepared slopes and lifts, and hired staff, only to have been denied permission to open just ahead of the February holidays.
“The (ski) stations have invested a lot to prepare the slopes, hire personnel, get organized with hoteliers. A lot of money was invested and yet again our world is heavily penalised,” said Flavio Roda, president of the Italian Winter Sports Federation.
According to Italian media reports on Monday, the decision to block the reopening of ski resorts has come from Italy’s new Prime Minister Palazzo Chigi, and more restrictions are expected to be implemented soon.
Under the previous government, restrictions in Italy were loosened over recent weeks with health experts saying the country was “bucking the trend” of Europe.
The new government, however, is under increasing pressure to change Italy’s strategy in dealing with the pandemic and to reinforce similar measures to France and Germany.
Also on Sunday, new restrictions came into force in the regions of Abruzzo, Tuscany, the autonomous province of Trentino, and Monaco’s neighbouring Liguria region, which were all moved up to the medium-risk “orange” category from “yellow.”
 
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Picture of Dolomites, Italy, source: Unsplash
 
 

Roca Team take victory in final seconds

by: Stephanie Horsman
15/02/2021

In a nail-biter of a finish, AS Monaco Basketball pulled off a one-point win against Orleans Lorient Basket on Friday night.

The Roca Team faced off against Orleans at the Palais des Sports on Friday night in a in a Jeep Elite away game that was too-close-for-comfort.

With 22 seconds on the clock, Monaco was trailing by a single point. Abdou Ndoye tried to find a hole on the crowded floor. He squeezed in and took a lay-up that just missed the mark. The rebound would be the decider. If it was Orleans, game over, if it was the Roca Team, there was still hope.

Out of nowhere, JJ O’Brien leapt up and took possession of the ball. The entire game hinged on this final shot. O’Brien released the ball and as it left his hand, it was apparent this one would hit the target.

With two-tenths of a second left on the clock, the Roca Team declared a 85-86 victory, snatching the game from their opponents in what must have been a heart-breaker of a loss for them.

Rob Gray was high-scorer in a high-scoring night, chalking up 22 points. Lessort was just one behind with 21, followed by Captain Dee Bost who walked away with 18 points.

“All the rebounds we took, especially offensive, changed the face of the game,” said Coach Zvez dan Mitrovic. “I congratulate my team, we managed to snatch the victory with seven pro players only on the parquet. It was difficult, but they did it. We showed energy and determination against a good team from Orleans, aggressive and well organised. Our third high-intensity quarter allowed us to get back into the game.”

The Roca Boys’ next game with be on 2nd March at 7pm when they square off against Nanterre for a Euro Cup 7 game at home at Gaston Medecin.

 
(Monaco Life with AS Monaco Basketball press release, photo by AS Monaco Basketball)
 
 

Monte-Carlo Masters to go ahead behind closed doors

by: Cassandra Tanti
15/02/2021

Rafael Nadal will be chasing his 12th Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters title this April but, for the first time, he will be doing so without a crowd of fans cheering him on.
After cancelling the 2020 Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters due to the Covid-19 pandemic, organisers have confirmed that this year’s tournament will go ahead from 10th to 18th April, however it will be behind closed doors.
In a statement released on Friday, they said that the decision was made in accordance with the latest government measures which extend the state of health emergency until 3rd May 2021.
“Our teams remain fully mobilised and motivated to welcome the best players in the world who, despite this particularly difficult period, will be here to provide a spectacular event,” reads the statement.
The move is not completely unexpected. Monaco Life reported in mid-January that ticket sales for the 114th Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters had been postponed, and that the Monte-Carlo Country Club was “hopeful” the tournament will go ahead with “undoubtedly limited public access” this year.
The Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters is hosted at the Monte-Carlo Country Club, which actually sits in the French commune of Roquebrune-Cap-Martin and is subject to French health restrictions.
The French Senate had initially approved an extension of the state of emergency until 3rd May, but this was later pushed to 1st June.
State of emergency gives the government the ability to, among other things, order the closure of establishments that are open to the public.
Since the inception of the series in 1990, only six men have won 11 or more ATP Masters 1000 titles. One of those men, Rafael Nadal, has remarkably achieved that feat at a single event.
Fans can watch the 2021 tournament on television from 11th to 18th April on Eurosport, on 17th and 18th also on C8, as well as on the official website and social networks.
 
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Chepkoech breaks 5km world record in Monaco

by: Stephanie Horsman
15/02/2021

Beatrice Chepkoech smashed the 5km world record on Sunday at the Monaco Run, finishing the race in an astounding 14 minutes and 43 seconds. Joshua Cheptegei won the men’s 5km for the second year in a row, but was unable to best his time from last year.
Kenyan runner Beatrice Chepkoech surpassed the previous world record for a 5km race set by Caroline Kipkirui in a 2018 mixed gender race by five seconds, one second faster than the record for a women-only race set by Sifan Hassan.
Until Chepkoech’s performance at the Monaco Run, Hassan’s 14 minutes 44 second time was the fastest ever recorded since the introduction of the 5km as a world record event in 2017.
“I was so happy because I didn’t expect it,” 29 year old Chepkoech said. “It was cold and there was a lot of wind, but I tried to follow my pace-maker and everything was perfect.”
Meanwhile, Ugandan runner Joshua Cheptegei had a marvellous performance as well, crossing the finish line in Monaco with a 5km time of 13 minutes 11 seconds. This was a strong finish, but didn’t touch his previous efforts in the Principality, where last year he came in at 12 minutes 51 seconds, setting a world record.
“I knew that I had to run the best way I always run. I did not want anything to distract me. I just ran to defend the title,” Cheptegei said after the race. “I expect to become great this year or even more,” referring to his current training regime, preparing him for the upcoming Olympic Games in Tokyo.
This has been a banner week for the World 5,000m and 10,000m record holder, who was named his country’s tourism ambassador by the Uganda Tourism Board on Wednesday.
Cheptegei said he was deeply grateful to be given the “huge responsibility”.
“I look forward to sharing my Ugandan story to the rest of the world. In the same breath, I wish to call upon every Ugandan, especially those in the diaspora, to make it a point to visit and discover more about this our country,” he added.
 
Photo by Manuel Vitali / Government Communication Department
 
 

Draw for AS Monaco

by: Stephanie Horsman
15/02/2021

In an away match against Lorient that never saw the Red and Whites in the lead, a draw was welcome when the buzzer went off, leaving a final score of 2-2 and preserving Monaco’s 2021 unbeaten streak.
“We still need to learn,” said AS Monaco coach Niko Kovac after a Sunday draw against Lorient saw them come up with a two-two finish.
The starting line-up was the same as in the previous two games against Nantes and Nice, as Coach Kovac seemed to have a feeling about this opponent, who in recent weeks had regained serious mojo, despite being way down in the Ligue 1 standings.
Lorient’s good form was apparent from the beginning, as they took the opening goal at only seven minutes in with a strong kick by Terem Moffi that flew past Goalkeeper Benjamin Lecomte on a penalty shot.
This wake-up call led Monaco to step things up, though whilst they dominated possession of the ball, they were unable to convert in the first half.
After the halftime break, the Red and Whites came out with renewed energy and within three minutes, Wissam Ben Yedder took advantage of a penalty shot to land one in the top corner of the posts, much to the chagrin of Lorient goalie Matthieu Dreyer.
With an even score, the game belonged to anyone, but not for long. It was Moffi’s night and just past the hour mark at 62 minutes, he snuck one past Lecomte, pulling his team into the lead once again.
It looked like the end of the winning streak for Monaco, but Captain Ben Yedder was again on the case, and in extra time, he pulled one out of the hat, evening up the score and ending the game with a two-two tie.
“I told the players to be careful,’ said Coach Kovac. “Lorient are on a good run with 10 points from the last 12 and a win against Paris. Ligue 1 is not an easy league, you have to stay 100% focused from the first to the last minute… We didn’t play the same way as we have recently.”
This near loss may be enough to rattle the Red and Whites, who will need to be on top form when they face off against powerhouse team Paris Saint-Germain next Sunday at the Parc des Princes.
 
Monaco Life with AS Monaco press release, photo by AS Monaco