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Day: 13 January 2022

Weekend ski report: 14th to 16th January

by: Luke Entwistle
13/01/2022

Conditions continue to be mild at the region’s ski resorts, with sunny skies throughout the weekend, no snowfall, and temperatures up to a balmy 12°C.

Isola 2000 – There are 20 ski slopes and 14 ski lifts open at Isola, coupled with 70 to 55cm of snow, however no snow is expected over the weekend. It is forecast to be entirely sunny with highs of 9°C and lows of -4°C. The col de la Bonette and la Lombarde roads are closed until the end of the winter season.

Auron – There are currently 21 ski slopes and 13 ski lifts open at the resort, with around 30cm of standing snow. Sunny skies are forecast for the weekend and highs of 8°C, lows of -1°C. There will also be winds of up to 26 km/h on Friday. In terms of access, Route de la Tinée, Route de la Bonette, Piste de la Moustière, Piste de Demandols all remain closed.

Les Deux Alpes – This resort is boasting 76 ski slopes and 38 ski lifts open. There is already 50cm of standing snow and clear skies are expected this weekend. There will be lows of -6°C and highs of 6°C.

La Colmiane – There are currently 10 ski slopes and 5 ski lifts open at the resort with between 40 and 30 cm of standing snow. As it is throughout the region, it is expected to be sunny over the weekend with winds of up to 40 km/h on Friday. There will be highs of 8°C and lows of -1°C. The resort hasn’t reported any road closures.

Greolieres les Neiges – As usual, this small resort has the least amount of snow in the region, with 20cm and no further snow forecast over the weekend. It will be sunny though throughout the weekend though with a balmy top of 12°C. The resort isn’t reporting any road closures. There are currently five ski lifts open.

Limone Piemonte – There are currently 11 runs open at the resort and 10 ski lifts. There is a minimum of 10cm of snow throughout the resort and a maximum of 45cm in places. Visibility should be good throughout the weekend. It is expected to be sunny with lows of -1°C and highs of 11°C. Passage through the Roya valley currently isn’t possible due to the collapsed bridge at Tende. Drivers must instead pass through Ventimiglia and the journey from Monaco is currently approximately 3 hours.

Valberg – There are 18 ski slopes and 11 ski lifts open. The resort currently has 40cm of standing snow, and it has not snowed since 25th December. It is expected to be sunny all weekend with highs of 10°C and lows of 2°C.

 

Note: Snow tyres must be worn on the roads up to the ski resorts.

 

 

Photo source: Isola 2000 webcam

 

 

 

Arthur Leclerc re-signs with Prema Racing

by: Luke Entwistle
13/01/2022

Monégasque driver Arthur Leclerc has signed on for a second year at F3 team Prema, whilst continuing in the Ferrari Drivers’ Academy in 2022.

Leclerc finished 10th in the drivers’ standings in his debut season in F3, registering two victories in the process as well as a pole position and second place in the Hungarian Grand Prix.

Last year’s team-mate Dennis Hauger ended the season as F3 champion and has subsequently found himself a seat in F2 for next season.

The goal this year for Leclerc will be to reach the heights of his former team-mate, and he says he is excited for the start of the season.

“I am extremely happy to continue the work we started with Prema racing,” said the 21-year-old in a press statement. “I think we did a good job last year, and 2022 will be a good opportunity to put together everything we have learned so far. I cannot wait for the start of the season.”

Prema team principal Rene Rosin expressed his delight at retaining Leclerc’s services, adding, “I am sure that he will carry on the progress we saw in 2021 when he showed he had the potential to be a front runner.”

Arthur will be hoping that a positive season will help him progress along the same trajectory as his brother Charles, the current Ferrari F1 driver.

The season gets under way at the same time and place as the F1 season, on 18th March in Bahrain.

 

 

Photo source: Ferrari Scuderia Media Centre

 

 

 

These are the workers who must present health pass from Monday

by: Stephanie Horsman
13/01/2022

The Monaco government has released a full list of industries which will be affected by the new compulsory health pass for workers, which takes effect from Monday 17th January.

Due to a “significant epidemic rebound”, the government last week announced that it will extend the health pass obligation to encompass workers in certain public and private sectors deemed necessary to the continual functioning of society.

The goal, they say, is to “ensure that the epidemic rebound does not disrupt the economic and social life of the Principality of Monaco,” but it does not cover every employee in every category. They are leaving the decision of who should be included in the obligatory list and who it is not necessary for to the discretion of management.

A valid health pass shows that a person is fully vaccinated, has recently recovered from the virus or has presented a negative Covid test. Without this pass, the affected employees will not be allowed to work.

The complete list of selected entities is as follows:

– Prince’s Palace.

– Ministry of State.

– National council.

– Directorate of Judicial Services.

– Ministerial Departments.

– Embassy of Monaco in France.

– Town hall.

– Monegasque Digital Security Agency.

– General Control of Expenses.

– Corps of the Prince’s Carabinieri.

– Interministerial Delegation in charge of Digital Transition.

– Department of Health Action.

– Department of Urban Planning.

– Directorate of Civil Aviation.

– Communications management

– Directorate of Public Security.

– Department of Maritime Affairs.

– Department of Platforms and Digital Resources.

– Department of Digital Services.

– Management information systems.

– Department of Public Works.

– Directorate of Budget and Treasury.

– Maintenance Service for Public Buildings

– Public Parking Service.

– General Treasury of Finances.

– Banks.

– Monaco Bus Company.

– Mediterranean Pharmaceutical Counter

– LTP Technologies.

– Monaco Digital.

– Monaco Telecom.

– Monaco Ports Operating Company.

– Monegasque Sanitation Company.

– Monaco Electricity and Gas Company.

– Monegasque Water Company.

-Telis.

– Trafiparc

The mandatory health pass for workers rule will remain in force until at least the end of February.

 

 

 

Photo by Jeremy Bazanger on Unsplash

 

 

 

Countdown to the 90th Monte-Carlo Automobile Rally

by: Stephanie Horsman
13/01/2022

The 2022 edition of the Monte-Carlo Automobile Rally, which kicks off on Monday, will have all the thrills of previous years and a few twists to give fans something new to sink their teeth into. 

The 90th Monte-Carlo Automobile Rally, the inaugural round of the 2022 FIA World Rally Championship (WRC), will run this year from 17th to 23rd January.

For the first time since 2006, the service park will stay entirely in the Principality, giving fans a chance to venture down to the Port to see the action. Additionally, this year’s course will be modified by a full 95% from the previous race, combining originality and challenges the whole way through.

One notable change is that the part of the course that goes to Gap, a staple of the route since 2014, will be excluded this year, rerouted instead to Monaco.

The first three days, the 17th to the 19th, will be devoted to reconnaissance, with the official kick-off on 20thJanuary at 6:45pm on the Place du Casino, an exciting new extra to the roster. The Monaco-centric feel to this year’s event coincides with the 90th edition celebrations which are being put on by the Organising Committee of the Automobile Club de Monaco.

The opening night will feature a 38.45-kilometre timed race from Lucéram to Lantosque and La Bollène-Vésubie to Moulinet, serving as the ‘Nuit du Turini 2022’.

The first full day, the 21st, will be a 97.86-kilometre race against the clock in a loop with three stages that will be done twice. It starts with the Roure to Beuil portion, then on to Guillaumes, Péone  and Valberg, and finally,the Val-de-Chalvagne to Entrevaux section.

Day three will be in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence region and will cover 92.46 kilometres. The day begins with Le Fugeret to Thorame-Haute. Then it’s time for a loop to be run twice, interspersed with a pit stop and a compulsory regroup in Digne-les-Bains. With the new Saint-Jeannet to Malijai and Saint-Geniez to Thoard routings via Authon and the dreaded Col de Fontbelle, this new day will be a true challenge.

The final day will see 67.26 kilometres covered in the Alpes-Maritimes hinterlands. Two events will be run twice, including the brand new timed section of La Penne to Collongues and one introduced last year, Briançonnet / Entrevaux via the Col du Buis and the Val-de-Chalvagne, which will act as a Power Stage during the second passage. 

Return to the Principality is scheduled for around 2pm and will be followed by the prize-giving ceremony in the Place du Casino.

 

Photo by McKlein / M-Sport

 

 

 

Gay men allowed to donate blood without strings

by: Stephanie Horsman
13/01/2022

After nearly four decades, homosexuals in France will soon be able to become blood donors without tiresome conditions or a long abstinence period.

Since 1983, at the height of the AIDS epidemic, gay men in France have been virtually banned from giving blood. This draconian decision was in response to a fear that blood infected with the HIV virus would find its way into the general population, thus serving up what was then a death warrant for anyone unlucky enough to receive tainted supplies. As AIDS was then considered to be solely a “gay disease”, the reaction to not accept blood from any gay person, though unfair, was logical to officials at the time.

As of 11th January 2022, that decision has now been reversed. On Tuesday, French Health Minister Olivier Veran announced that blood donations would be accepted from any willing donor, with no strings, from 16thMarch.

Jérôme Salomon, the French Director General of Health, explains there will be “no more reference to sexual orientation” in pre-blood donation questionnaires.

This isn’t the first time this issue has come before authorities. A first step was taken in 2016, but conditions remained strict and untenable for most. For example, gay men would need to remain abstinent for a one-year period before being allowed to donate. This was lowered to four months in 2019 but was still considered a rather unreasonable request considering screening has come a long way.

The new questionnaire will no longer ask about sexual orientation, but will ask whether the person is currently having treatment for pre or post-exposure to the HIV virus. If this is the case, the donor must wait four months before trying again.

Erwann Le Hô, President of the LGBTQIA + Centre Côte d’Azur, says he “welcomes the alignment of the criteria, allowing the development of blood donation. The absolute priority must be optimal health security, and it is relevant and fair to base the selection on individual practices, not sexual orientation.”

In an interview with France 3, he goes on to say, “this progress is made possible by the monumental work of actors against HIV in recent years, which has helped to drop the prevalence among gay men.”

France is following in the footsteps of other nations, such as the UK, Spain, Israel and Italy, who have all changed their policies on blood donation in recent years, thus putting an end to discrimination against gay men on this front.

According to the blood donation site of the Princess Grace Hospital Centre, restrictions are not applied to homosexuals in Monaco wanting to donate blood.

 

 

Photo by Nguyen Hiep on Unsplash