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Month: February 2021

Saying goodbye to Jean-Marc Giraldi

by: Stephanie Horsman
08/02/2021

Prince Albert has joined friends, family and colleagues of Jean-Marc Giraldi for a fitting send-off at the Yacht Club of Monaco. The President of the Nautical Society of Monaco and Vice-President of the International Moto-Nautical Union passed away on 28th January from complications related to Covid. He was 62.

It is clear that Jean-Marc Giraldi left his mark on the Principality, evidenced by the turn out for his memorial service on Saturday 6th February.

As a man whose life revolved around the sea, it was more than fitting that his farewell be on the water. It was a solemn and dignified ceremony, during which the relics of Monaco’s patron saint, Saint Devote, were presented, while rose petals were thrown into the sea and fog horns from surrounding boats punctuated the winter silence in a mournful homage.

Giraldi, a native of Menton, discovered a love for rowing at an early age and was a stand-out from the start.

“Spotted by Jean-Louis Antognelli, he joined the Monegasque club in the mid-1970s with his brother Philippe. He became a trainer there,” says the Monaco Nautical Society in a press statement.

Rowing led him to practice other sports including power boating – becoming the 2000’s offshore World Champion, jet-skiing, and in 1988 he even tried out for Prince Albert’s Olympic bobsled team. Though he didn’t make the cut, the two men became life-long friends.

Ü Presidente, as he liked to be called, was also treasurer of the International Moto-Nautical Union in addition to President of the Nautical Society.

“Always present on the Quai Louis II, attentive to people and in detail, his stentorian voice resonated until the end of December 2020, when his fight against Covid-19 began,” the Nautical Society said. “He leaves behind an immense void and an example of righteousness, benevolence, intelligence and loyalty.”

 
Photo by Michael Alesi for the Government Communication Department
 
 

#8MarsMonaco to honour heroines of Covid

by: Cassandra Tanti
08/02/2021

The Principality will mark International Women’s Rights Day this year by honouring the females who have been working at the frontline of Monaco’s fight against Covid-19.
On Monday, exactly one month before its annual #8MarsMonaco campaign, the Women’s Rights Committee announced that International Women’s Rights Day 2021 will take on a special theme.
The campaign will highlight the heroines on the frontline since the lockdown of March 2020.
“A year after the first confinement, it seemed obvious to me to thank these women in the shadows who worked for the general interest,” said Céline Cottalorda, Interministerial Delegate for Women’s Rights.
Artist Anthony Alberti, alias Mr OneTeas, has again produced a series of photographic portraits which will be presented at the entrances to the Principality, on the Rock, and in the Fontvieille shopping mall.
Meanwhile, due to constraints surrounding the pandemic, the works at the Ministry of State will be inaugurated via a video broadcast on the committee’s social networks and on the government communication channel Monaco Info from 8th March, giving the public an opportunity to discover all of the works on display throughout the city.
 
Photo by Michael Alesi for the Government Communication Department
 

Exciting new exhibition comes to NMNM

by: Stephanie Horsman
08/02/2021

A new exhibition by renowned Japanese artist Shimabuku is bringing a touch of the East to the Principality with The 165 Metre Mermaid and Other Stories at the New National Museum of Monaco-Villa Paloma.
The idea for the exhibit arose from a medieval legend that was told as an epic poem. The artist uses the theme to tell of his “adventures and encounters as he goes with the flow, roving between his native Japan and Monaco via Brazil, Australia and many other lands,” according to the New National Museum of Monaco (NMNM).
In a unique combination of land art, writings, performance, cooking and music, Shimabuku’s acts are spun together to form a narrative thread for exhibition, which uses his installations, films, photos and sculptures from the past three decades to create one magical event.
Shimabuku was born in Kobe in 1969 and studied at the Osaka College of Art before transferring to the San Francisco Art Institute. He then moved to Berlin in 2004 where he lived for 12 years before returning to Japan, where he took up residence in Naha, on Okinawa, where his family comes from.
Shimabuku describes his work as “poetical-philosophical, questioning our relationship with otherness and engaging with an individual or collective action of care and attention.”
Initiated on Norihama beach after the 2011 tsunami, the installation Erect has led to a new specific production created in Monaco following the poem-protocol established by the artist.
“Placing things upright. Placing the lying things upright. Placing the trees and stones that lie on the beach upright,” the artist says of his works. “With the collaboration of many people, we will place many things in an upright position. We will try to put our energy together to place huge trees as well in an upright position. This should make something that lies in our hearts stand up in an upright position.”
The exhibit will be accompanied by a catalogue published by the NMNM in conjunction with Berlin publisher Manuel Raeder, and will feature previously unpublished work by Nicolas Bourriaud, Claire Restif and Rikrit Tiravanija.
The 165 Metre Mermaid and Other Stories will run from 19th February to 3rd October.
 
Photo by Shimabuku
 

AS Monaco rack up another victory

by: Stephanie Horsman
08/02/2021

AS Monaco saw their seventh straight victory when they faced off against Nîmes Olympique at Stade des Costières on Sunday night, but it was no walk in the park for the Red and Whites as both sides fought hard for their goals.
It was a nail-biter right from the start. Only three minutes into play, Aleksandr Golovin made the opening goal with a left-footer that landed beautifully in the net giving them an almost instant 0 to1 advantage.
Not 10 minutes later it was history repeating itself as Golovin was again Johnny-on-the-spot, knocking one just below the crossbar to give Monaco a 0-2 advantage. This could have been 0-3 by the 17th minute, if a goal by Wissam Ben Yedder had not been ruled out.
Down, but by no means out, Nîmes lashed back 10 minutes later with a fantastic goal by, Lucas Deaux, breathing life back into the match. Zinédine Ferhat followed up soon after, evening the score to 2-2.
No more goals were made in the first half, so both teams went into the locker room on even standing.
After halftime, and just after the hour mark, it was again the unstoppable Aleksandr Golovin who made a magnificent free kick that landed in the bottom corner of the net. Now back in the lead, Monaco were not about to let it go.
Kevin Volland knocked a beauty between the posts in the 77th minute, giving Monaco a two point lead at 2-4.
Nîmes Niclas Eliasson brought his team to within one goal, with a top corner shot that made its way past Lecomte, putting them to within spitting distance of the tie. Fortunately, the Red and Whites were able to hold them off and the match ended in a 3-4 win for Monaco.
“Everyone saw us winning easily,” said Coach Niko Kovac, “but I want you to remember that I said we were going to face a difficult team. I have played a lot of matches like this, I told my players, and at the press conference I said that no Ligue 1 team is easy to play against, especially when they are fighting for survival.”
This win leaves Monaco still in fourth place in Ligue 1 standings, three points behind PSG and eight off the top spot held by Lille. Coach Kovac says he knows what needs to be done to boost Monaco into the top three.
“The difference between Monaco and Lille, Paris and Lyon is that these three sides have had the opportunity to work together for many years, they know each other perfectly. Moreover, they concede fewer goals than us. We need to improve on the defensive side of things.”
The Red and Whites play again on Wednesday night when they face off against Grenoble.
 
(Monaco Life with AS Monaco press release, photo by AS Monaco)
 
 

Government strengthens restrictions

by: Cassandra Tanti
06/02/2021

Monaco employees have been ordered to return to remote working as part of new restrictions by the government to fight a rapidly deteriorating health situation in the Principality.
Minister of State Pierre Dartout gave a press conference late Friday in which he outlined the latest measures by the Prince’s Government.
It comes as health authorities reported more Covid-related fatalities on 5th and 6th February, a 77-year-old and a 92-year-old. It brings the total death toll in Monaco to 20, and only three of those occurred in all of 2020.
From Monday 8th February, it will be compulsory for all Monaco employees to work from home if their position allows it. This order will remain in place until 19th February when it will be reviewed.
The government is also moving to reduce the number of people gathering in retail spaces and churches, setting a limit of one person for every four square metres of space, down from six square metres.
Meanwhile, a maximum of six people is allowed in public spaces instead of the previous limit of 10. This does not apply to large families.
Covid screening in the Principality is also being stepped up, with PCR tests now available without prescription at the Espace Léo Ferré. Appointments are still necessary however.
And anyone entering Monaco from a foreign country, expect France, is required to produce a negative PCR test of less than 72 hours. Workers and students are exempt.
Within the home and other private settings, the government recommends that citizens restrict groupings to six people to limit the risk of contamination.
It is also asking supermarkets to allow only two people per shopping trolly to reduce overall numbers, and advises stores to open earlier in the morning.
 
Photo by Chris Montgomery on Unsplash
 
 

Welcome Monaco One

by: Cassandra Tanti
06/02/2021

Monaco’s new fast shuttle between Ventimiglia and Port Hercule has arrived in the Principality ahead of its official launch in March.
With its sleek modern design, Monaco One made its momentous arrival shortly after 3pm on Thursday, before setting off again to obtain its certification from RINA (Registro Italiano Navale), a maritime classification society.
“These are the last qualification tests for the reception of the boat. It is a question of speed, handling, sound level of the engine and all the other technical details,” Daniel Realini, Deputy Director General of the Société Monégasque Internationale Portuaire, told Monaco Matin.

Photo of Monaco One by Saverio Chiappalone

The vessel was purchased by the Société d’Exploitation des Ports de Monaco (SEPM) for €1.2 million, the third craft designed and created by Advanced Aerodynamic Vessels (A2V).
The smooth-sailing boat can reach maximum speeds of around 50 knots and it will take just 12 minutes to complete the journey between Ventimiglia and Monaco. The only catch is, the shuttle is reserved for customers from the ports of Monaco and the new Cala Del Forte port in Italy, and not the general public.
Over the next few weeks, Monaco One will be moored in the Monegasque-owned Cala del Forte where final adjustments and sea trials will take place.
The first passenger journeys are set to begin in early March, with the vessel fully operational for the next Formula 1 Grand Prix.
 
Top photo by Saverio Chiappalone