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Day: 28 January 2022

Registration now open for Pink Ribbon Monaco Walk

by: Stephanie Horsman
28/01/2022

After being forced to cancel last year due to the pandemic, breast cancer awareness organisation Pink Ribbon Monaco is hosting its 10th Pink Ribbon Walk in February, encouraging participants to turn out in their pinkest kit to exercise for charity.

France had 58,083 new cases of breast cancer in 2020, making it the second most common cancer in the country behind prostate cancer. Worldwide, one in eight women will be affected by the disease in their lifetime.

Studies have shown that physical activity can reduce the risk of recurring cancer by as much as 25% and may improve survival rates by 30%.

Since 2011, Pink Ribbon Monaco, founded by Natasha Frost-Savio, has been putting the word out to raise awareness on early screening methods and prevention through a variety of campaigns and events. Their flagship event is the Pink Ribbon Walk.

The 5km fun walk takes participants from Port Hercule, past many iconic Monegasque buildings such as the Prince’s Palace, the Cathedral, the Oceanographic Museum, and the terraces of the Monte-Carlo Casino.

Walkers will be asked to wear bibs with messages of support or tribute to those who have or had the disease rather than numbers. The event is not designed to be a competition, but more of a celebration, with the goal being to have as many active participants as possible showing their backing whilst getting out for a bit of exercise with friends.

The walk is also a show of solidarity for the women affected by breast cancer. Men are encouraged to join in, as well. As husbands, fathers, sons, and brothers of the woman battling the disease, they are affected too.

This year’s co-partners in the event are SBM Offshore and the Monegasque Athletics Federation (FMA).

The Pink Ribbon Walk starts at 10am on Sunday 13th February at Port Hercule. Pre-registration is open on 12th February from 10am to 5pm, and again before 10am on the 13th on the esplanade of the port. Alternatively, walkers can go online and register. The cost is €30 with all proceeds going to support breast cancer awareness.

Children are welcome and are free to enter under the age of 13. Those in wheelchairs or with pushchairs may need assistance in certain areas. Raffle tickets will be on sale for €10 for a book of five, and a t-shirt is being offered to all walkers courtesy of SBM Offshore.

For more information, or to register for the walk online, visit the website at www.pinkribbon.mc

SEE ALSO:

Jodie Foster headlines Pink Ribbon event in Monaco

 

 

Photo source: Pink Ribbon Monaco

 

 

 

 

Monaco Red Cross: year in review

by: Stephanie Horsman
28/01/2022

An overview of the Monaco Red Cross has shown that while the organisation was called upon heavily due to the health crisis in 2021, it still managed to revamp and modernise its founding texts and statutes with the aim of heading into a brighter future.

Last year was a tricky year for many associations, even ones as firmly entrenched as the Monaco Red Cross. Nonetheless, the organisation made great strides and imposed several changes, taking them into 2022 on strong footing.

In addition to updating their decrees, they renewed their Board of Directors for a three-year term. This included the additions of new members Princess Charlene as Vice-President, Camille Gottlieb as Head of Youth, and Director of Princess Grace Hospital Benoîte de Sevelinges as Head of Hospital Assistance.

The Monaco Red Cross sat on the front lines of the pandemic, raising €1.8 million in donations that was used to do their part. This included participation in screening and self-testing campaigns, personal protective equipment deliveries to caregivers, and manning call centre and home monitoring centre hotlines. In all, volunteers gave 3,040 hours of their time during the past year.

The Red Cross was also on the scene at many events, where they logged 365 first aid actions carried out over 17,700 hours of time given. They were present at major events in the Principality such as the Grand Prix, football and basketball games, the Herculis athletics event, on walking trails, and at the lifeguard stations on Larvotto last summer.

Covid didn’t prevent training programmes from being carried out and allowed for professionals and volunteers to be taught or given continued education in water safety and rescue, making it possible to assist lifeguards at pools and on the beaches.

A real source of pride this year comes from the fact that the Monaco Red Cross is attracting young volunteers. A third of the 623 volunteers are under 35 years of age.

“Of 92 new registrants in 2021, more than half are young people. The Covid crisis has made them want to find actions that make sense. We have always had more difficulty attracting young people. In order to maintain this momentum, we are planning more actions in line with what they expect to invite them to give their time, in particular on intergenerational missions,” said Frédéric Platini, Secretary General of the Monaco Red Cross.

 

Additionally, €800,000 was earmarked in 2021 for those in need. Financial assistance for rent, energy bills, school catering costs and food was doled out to 621 households in the Principality and the surrounding villages.

Now that 2021 is over, the association looks to the coming year to continue its work.

Notably, 2022 marks the 40th anniversary of the Presidency of Prince Albert II at the Monaco Red Cross. As such, they are looking to incorporate his philosophies into the agenda, vowing to “strengthen its commitment to the environment” and “push actions on the theme of psychological distress” through a mental health plan developed with the government. They have also agreed to continued adherence to the Energy Transition Pact, of which they have been a part since 2019, as well as continuing to keep their carbon footprint low.

Though many have forgotten about the hardships endured in the Roya Valley after Storm Alex struck the area in October 2020, the Red Cross continues working to help them get life back to normal. In 2022, they have pledged to offer funds to help rebuild two bridges to reconnect families in Breil-sur-Roya to the world again.

Four new projects are being undertaken as well in 2022, including the taking on of sexual violence cases against women in the Democratic Republic of Congo, another working with migrants in Bosnia and Herzegovina, one more around issues of water, hygiene and food diversification in south-west Burkina Faso, and finally, the association is starting a regional first aid development project in partnership with the world first aid centre of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and the Monaco government in five countries, namely Burkina Faso, Mali, Mauritania, Niger and Senegal.

On a lighter note, after the success of the Red Cross Ball summer concert, the organisation is considering a reprisal of the event this year. “We liked the format, and we are considering it again for the summer of 2022,” Mr Platini explained. The event is set to again take place on Casino Square.

 

 

Photo source: Monaco Red Cross

 

 

 

Photos: Spring/Summer Haute Couture show

by: Isabella Marino
28/01/2022

Monaco Life fashion contributor Isabella Marino takes us inside Paris Haute Couture Spring-Summer 2022 and shows us her favourite looks from Stéphane Rolland and Dior.

Stéphane Rolland haute couture show, Théâtre National de Chaillot 25th January

The French couturier this season looked to the abstract expressionism of emerging Italian-Spanish painter Viani for his deeply emotional art, expressing freedom, happiness and love-anger dichotomy.

He wanted to portray the woman as “free, beautiful, and sensual without being aggressive”, opening the show with a homage to French fashion designer Manfred Thierry Mugler, who died on 23rd January.

Stéphane Rolland haute couture show SS22

The couturier carried through a fabulous collection of mostly fluid and monochromatic outfits, with few adornments save for oversize crystals and glass pebbles, executed by French glassmaker Théophile Caillethat.

I was emotionally impressed by this show, not only by the beauty of each piece, but because Stéphane Rolland expressed the iconic woman I have in mind: mysterious, feminine, sensual, free and fluid. Airy tunics, kaftans, see-through skirts and immense draped hoods and head veils added some mystery to the feminine and elegant collection.

Nieves Álvarez walks the catwalk for Stéphane Rolland

Rolland’s muse, the Spanish model Nieves Álvarez, dominated the catwalk with her iconic beauty.

Voluptuousness is in season for this new summer collection.

My favourite: the black ballgowns.

Isabella Marino at the Dior SS22 fashion show, Musée Rodin Paris

Dior haute couture show, Musée Rodin 24th January

Dior’s collection featured large embroidered artworks from Indian artist couple Madhvi Parekh and Manu Parekh. The LVMH-owned fashion house collaborated with the Chanakya School of Craft based in Mumbai for some of the silhouettes, including a top embroidered with silver ribbons and crystal tassels matched with an a-line skirt. The designer Maria Grazia Chiuri wanted to highlight art and craft.

Dior

Rhinestone and pearl embroideries dominated the collection, shimmering tights paired with glitter bodysuits, sleeveless jackets and low-heel shoes.

Simplicity, embroideries and craftsmanship are in season for this new summer collection.

My favourite: a black total-look, shimmering tights paired with glitter bodysuits and low-heel shoes.

Click on the gallery below to see more photos from the fashion shows…

SEE ALSO:

Profile: Personal stylist StyleMeBella

 

 

All photos by Isabella Marino

 

 

 

 

Battling Roca Team defeated by Spanish giants

by: luke@monacolife.net
28/01/2022

AS Monaco Basketball were cruelly beaten by Euroleague table-toppers Real Madrid at the Salle Gaston Medecin on Friday (84-90), the effervescent crowd almost spurring the home side to an unlikely upset.

Monaco began brightly against the reigning Euroleague champions, feeding off the intense energy from a 3,400 strong crowd that packed the hall for the biggest game of their season. Amongst the crowd was Prince Albert II and new Chairman Aleksej Fedoricsev, the latter having assumed his new role only a day earlier.

The defensive progress made since Sasa Obradovic’s return to the Principality club was once again on show. The Monaco players hunted the ball as a unit, succeeding in overturning possession on multiple occasions as the side finished the first-quarter with a narrow advantage.

Obradovic’s men continued to create openings for themselves within the key, though a lack of efficiency prevented them from extending their lead further. Instead it was Real Madrid who took the initiative, their lack of incision relative to their opponents was compensated by a superior efficiency both inside and outside the key. It was the Spanish side that therefore went into the break with a narrow lead (34-35).

Real Madrid came out looking to put the tie to bed, quickly rushing out into a 9-point lead. Monaco however, remained undeterred, the incessant roar of the crowd lifting the levels of the whole squad. The atmosphere reached fever-pitch as the hall erupted following an audacious, long-range Mike James three-pointer. That energy proved pivotal in the moments that followed. Danilo Andjusic, who had had a quiet evening, nailed a three-point brace to slash the deficit, instilling fans with the hope of pulling off the impossible.

Monaco went into the final quarter with a one point advantage, and the final ten minutes was a tense, cagey affair with defences largely on top. Only a matter of minutes stood between Monaco and a memorable victory, but Madrid showed the level of experience and resilience that won them last year’s title. The Roca Team’s six point advantage was cut by successive three-pointers, Rudy Fernandez restoring parity with seconds to spare.

A Dwayne Bacon three-point attempt on the buzzer didn’t land, and the game went into overtime. Monaco once again built an advantage, this time of five points, but once again they couldn’t hold on. Scores were once again tied (75-75), and Mike James’ on-the-buzzer attempt was easily blocked.

The tension in the hall could have been cut with a knife. Monaco began to tire in the second overtime, and Madrid pounced. Profiting from some sloppy Monaco finishing, they built an unassailable advantage. The hall began to empty before the final buzzer, as all of the built up tension and anticipation released in what was ultimately a negative catharsis, Madrid prevailing 84-90.

A visibly mentally and physically exhausted Bacon told Monaco Life after the match, “We came out and fought here. We had chances to win the game, but we just didn’t execute.” Monaco’s top-scorer on the night (19), was still happy with how the team competed. “It shows a lot to be able to compete. After tonight, everyone can see the work we’ve been putting in.”

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Fedoricsev entrusted with continuing the Roca Team project

by: Luke Entwistle
28/01/2022

The torch has been passed from Sergey Dyadechko to Aleksej Fedoricsev, marking the end of an unequivocally successful reign as chairman, upon which the latter now looks to build.

Dyadechko held the reins of the team for over two seasons, an era defined by great success and exponential growth at the Principality side. The crowning glory of his chairmanship will be the 2021 EuroCup victory, which consequently secured the side’s Euroleague spot, providing a basis on which to shine on a European stage.

Fedoricsev takes over at an exciting time. The Roca team are currently experiencing one of their best run of results in their recent history, having picked up four consecutive Euroleague victories, three of which came on the road. The side also currently sits in second position in the domestic division, meaning qualification for the end-of-season playoffs is also a distinct possibility.

The Russian businessman and former footballer was already involved at the club alongside now former chairman Dyadechko, who will continue at the club in the role of Vice-Chairman. Fedoricsev is keen to build on the success of his predecessor, stating in a press release, “Ever since Sergey Dyadechko suggested that I come on board with the Roca team venture, my heart has belonged to Monegasque basketball.” He continued, “This is an exciting project that will make Monaco a bit more prominent in the world of sport and performance.”

Becoming the majority shareholder with his recently acquired 46.6% stake in the club, Fedoricsev is fulfilling a dream that is decades old. “I am very happy to continue to support the red-and-white colours that I have worn for more than 30 years.”

In stepping down from his role as the Chairman of AS Monaco Basketball, Dyadechko, is looking forward to seeing his project flourish in the hands of its new leader. “The Roca team is a bit like my fifth child. Today, it’s as if this child, to whom I’ve given everything I can, is spreading its wings and becoming an adult. When you create a project, develop it and grow so quickly and well, you know there will be wonderful times ahead,” he said.

Exciting times are in store for the Roca team, as basketball continues to grow in popularity in the Principality, and their European journey continues to gain momentum.

 

 

Photo source: AS Monaco Basketball