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Month: February 2022

Peace and Sport appoints new CEO

by: Stephanie Horsman
04/02/2022

Jean-Jérôme Perrin-Mortier has been named the new Chief Executive Officer of Peace and Sport after the departure of former chief Laurent Dupont, who has taken a new position in Pairs.

Founded in 2007 by Modern Pentathlon Olympian Joël Bouzou, Peace and Sport is an international independent association whose guiding principle is the use of sport as a tool for international peace.

For the last eight years, the ship had been steered by Laurent Dupont, but now there is a new captain at the helm. Jean-Jérôme Perrin-Mortier, until recently the COO of the organisation, has been given the role of CEO, effective from 1st February.

“It is an honour to be appointed CEO of Peace and Sport,” said Perrin-Mortier. “I would like to thank President and Founder of Peace and Sport Joël Bouzou as well as all the Board members for their trust. I take this opportunity to show my respect and gratitude to my predecessor, Laurent Dupont, with whom I have worked in a framework of mutual trust in recent years. I will fulfil my CEO mission by innovating and diversifying alliances involving the sport world, the peace world, political leaders, and the private sector in projects that aim at common good. Together, we will spread the peace-through-sport message as far afield as possible.”

His role will be to actively support Mr Bouzou in developing peace-through-sport initiatives and implementing them as part of the charity’s overall strategy. His background in the sports world makes him an ideal fit in the organisation, having been coach in South Africa, Togo, and Azerbaijan’s Canoeing and Kayaking teams in the Olympic Games in 2008, 2012, and 2016. He also headed up the training team of the World Champions Peschier Brothers from France, and the first Olympic medallist in the history of Togo, Benjamin Boukpeti.

“We are very pleased that Jean-Jérôme Perrin-Mortier has accepted the position of new CEO of Peace and Sport,” said Joël Bouzou. “Jean-Jérôme Perrin-Mortier has a broad, unique and extensive leadership experience, which we believe will be very valuable for Peace and Sport. We are confident that he will be a force in driving Peace and Sport’s strategy in a very exciting but also challenging time. I would also like to sincerely thank Laurent Dupont for his years of commitment and hard work. I wish him the best of luck for the future.”

 

Photo source: Peace and Sport

 

 

Play-off dream still alive for Roca Team

by: Luke Entwistle
04/02/2022

Another thrilling comeback performance in the Euroleague keeps AS Monaco Basketball in the hunt for the end-of-season play-offs, this time bringing back a well-earned victory (80-91) from the Serbian capital.

It has been a hectic week for Sasa Obradovic’s men. Having welcomed the Betclic Elite league-leaders on Sunday, they immediately jetted off to Greece for their ultimately rewarding fixture against Panathinaikos. Less than 48-hours later, the Roca Team were once again on court on Thursday, looking to secure consecutive victories on-the-road against Crvena Zvezda.

Monaco’s first-quarter performance hinted at an element of jet-lag. The side’s slack defending was duly punished by the home side, whose efficiency saw them tally 30 points in the opening 10 minutes. However, that would be the only quarter that they would lose as Monaco began to pick-up where they left off against Panathinaikos.

Obradovic’s men would have to dig deep to take the victory, the fixture a test of his side’s mental resilience. Mid-way through the second-quarter, Monaco had the daunting task of overturning a 20-point deficit (45-25). Dwayne Bacon and Alpha Diallo would come to the rescue of the Principality side, providing nine points each as the deficit was reduced, and creating impetus going into the second-half.

Donatas Motiejūnas, who had gone off the boil towards the end of Zvezdan Mitrovic’s tenure, has been prolific in recent weeks. His finishing inside the key continues to be a reliable source of points for Monaco and so it was on Thursday, as he bagged 20 on the night.

The Lithuanian was an essential cog in a perfectly functioning Roca unit in the second half. The Principality side were simply unstoppable, unrecognisable to the side that looked so off the pace in the early stages.

The 20-point deficit was overturned in 25 minutes of madness inside the Belgradian hall, the Serbian side’s lead was slashed as Monaco went on to construct their own healthy lead. Quite unbelievably given the game-state in the first-half, the match was finished as a contest before the final buzzer, Monaco in the end easing to the victory (80-91).

Although many teams around them have games in hand, Monaco now find themselves within the play-off places, and Obradovic dreams of staying there. “We still think and dream about being in the top eight. For a team that is in the Euroleague for the first time, that would be a great success.”

Obradoivc will hope that his side can cement their position within the play-off places when Zalgiris visit the Salle Gaston Medecin next Tuesday. Before that, Monaco return to domestic action, welcoming Gravelines-Dunkerque on Sunday.

 

Photo by AS Monaco Basketball

 

 

ASM match preview: “I’m not someone who has spies”

by: Luke Entwistle
03/02/2022

Before Saturday’s crunch clash against Lyon, Philippe Clement addressed the media, seeking to allay the portrayal of the match as a do-or-die moment in AS Monaco’s season.

Fans hoping to attend the clash received a boost pre-match, as the club announced that up to 8,000 spectators will be allowed into the Stade Louis II on Saturday night. The match is therefore set to be the most attended since Clement’s arrival at the club in early January.

From the outset, Clement looked to downplay the importance of the match. “Naturally it’s an important match against a great team. It isn’t the decisive match, there are still 15 matches after that, and when we win it isn’t decisive, nor is that the case when we lose,” he said.

The Belgian manager is focusing on his own side’s capabilities, rather than those of their talented opponents. “I am not someone who follows the other team’s training, who has spies in order to have knowledge in advance of the match. I always want my team to be ready.”

For this crunch match against a rival for the Ligue 1 podium, Monaco will have to do without some important first-teamers. Monaco Life observed training at the club’s centre in La Turbie on Thursday, and amongst the most notable absences were Aleksandr Golovin (illness), Myron Boadu (muscle injury), and Guillermo Maripan, the latter, however, Clement confirmed would be rejoining the squad before Saturday and is in contention for the match.

Monaco will also be without key defender Benoit Badiashile who, despite engaging in some light, personal training, has not yet rejoined the group. Monaco Life can, however, report that Djibril Sidibe, Alexander Nubel and Radoslaw Majecki have returned to group training after missing out on the Coupe de France victory against Lens.

Clement will be hoping that the absentees are soon back in contention for first-team football, the manager telling Monaco Life, “The group isn’t incredibly large. With all the games now, we need players.”

Lyon come into the game with an almost complete squad to pick from and on a rich run of form, which sees them unbeaten in their last nine fixtures. The side also recently strengthened their squad with the addition of Tanguy N’dombele from Tottenham, and the purchase of former Monaco midfielder Romain Faivre. Monaco have also failed to beat Lyon since 2019, but if they are to keep pace with their rivals, then that will have to change.

Although, as Clement says, none of the 16 remaining matches are “decisive”, the fixture against Lyon is, however, more important than most. A loss against a rival for the Ligue 1 podium could provide a killer blow to their chances of Champions League football next season. The stakes are high and the atmosphere will be electric inside the Stade Louis II when the game kicks-off on Saturday night.

Click on our Instagram post below to see video of Thursday’s training session…

https://www.instagram.com/p/CZhGpc3sf3d/?utm_medium=copy_link

 

Photo of Thursday’s training session by Luke Entwistle, Monaco Life

 

 

 

Women’s Rights Committee progress report

by: Stephanie Horsman
03/02/2022
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Creating a new victim’s compensation fund and assisting in a report on the wage gap between men and women in Monaco are on the agenda for the Committee for the Promotion and Protection of Women’s Rights this year.

Despite 2021 being a difficult year with many cancellations and postponements due to the pandemic, the Committee for the Promotion and Protection of Women’s Rights had a banner year, according to the annual progress report.

At a press gathering this week, the Committee revealed that 16 actions were carried out in the realm of women’s rights and violence against women in Monaco. They also formed 34 partnerships and collaborations, and helped push through two new laws in the National Council.

Additionally, they increased social media activity, therefore raising visibility, ending the year with 122,958 views on their sites.

Céline Cottalorda, Interministerial Delegate for Women’s Rights, took stock of the year, saying it was “satisfactory thanks to the many advances but also, beyond words, a year in which actions were taken at the highest levels of the State with an accelerating feminisation movement.” She added that “despite the encouraging signs and the progress, the fight continues, in particular against the scourge of violence against women.”

The Committee also spoke about the future, notably events and actions for the coming year. Raising awareness, especially amongst young people, is high on the agenda, as well as creating a victim’s compensation fund for sexual and domestic violence offenses, including funds for children, and assisting in the publication of a report on the wage gap between men and women in Monaco, which will be released by IMSEE, the Principality’s statistical agency.

Meanwhile, newly appointed Foreign Affairs Minister Isabelle Berro-Amadeï highlighted the role that youth play in equality, saying, “I do not forget the tremendous involvement of young people. It is indeed more relevant than ever to turn to these young people. They are the builders of a society that wants to be more inclusive, without sexual or sexist discrimination.”

Through its cooperation programs in the field and its presence in international forums, the Principality maintains continuous political and financial support for the protection and emancipation of women. Monaco was notably elected in 2021 to the Board of Directors of ONU Women.

SEE ALSO:

New sexual harassment law passes National Council

 

Photo by Michael Alesi, Government Communication Department

 

 

 

The year of Prince Albert I begins

by: Stephanie Horsman
03/02/2022
monaco-life-news-monte-carlo-prince-albert-1

To mark the 100th anniversary of the death of the Explorer Prince, Prince Albert I, a whole schedule of events is planned for this year. Here is what to expect.

Prince Albert I was a modern prince, even by today’s standards. His interests were vast and included advanced topics for his time such as science, exploration and oceanography. But his emphasis was on ocean protection, making him a front-runner in the environmentalist movement.

His philosophy on ruling was also incredibly forward-thinking. He was a constitutional monarch in a world of absolute rulers, making economic, social and political reforms including the creation of a constitution which stands to this day – things that were considered radical and outside the box at the time.

To celebrate this extraordinary man, the Principality has set up a number of events to introduce people to his life and work.

Currently on at the Oceanographic Museum and at the Princess Grace Theatre until 5th February, there is an international, multidisciplinary symposium which has brought together historians, art historians and scientists to discuss Prince Albert’s I actions and work.

On 17th February, the Philharmonic Orchestra of Monaco will be holding a commemorative concert featuring works by Camille Saint-Saëns and Gabriel Fauré at the Auditorium Rainier III as part of the Philharmonic’s Musical Happy Hour series.

Coming up on 21st February, the students from the Lycée Technique et Hôtelier are offering a vegetarian menu in collaboration with the experimental educational vegetable garden at the Cordon d’Or restaurant in honour of the Prince.

Then on 26th February, the Monte-Carlo chess circle is organising a memorial tribute to the international chess tournament that took place in Monaco from 1901 to 1904 during which an Albert I Cup was awarded. There will be a chess champion playing against several partners simultaneously in the atrium of the Monte-Carlo Casino with a player being rewarded at the end.

From 15th March to 10th April, there will be an exhibition organised by the Monaco Media Library in connection with the series of conferences started in 2020 on sports in the time of Prince Albert I.

Additionally, there is a commemorative day marking the inauguration of the new hospital on 9th April 1902 in the Salines district, on the site of the current Princess Grace Hospital Centre, an institution built under the reign of Albert I.

Finally, since September, the Audiovisual Institute has been holding educational workshops that will go on until the end of the 2021/2022 academic year in June featuring images of Prince Albert I, as depicted in news reels and chronicled in the 2014 book Albert I in Films. They will also be exhibiting photos and films taken by the Prince himself, who was a pioneer in the world of cinematography.

The celebratory events will continue throughout the year and updates on more exhibits, conferences and shows will be forthcoming as the dates are closer.

 

SEE ALSO:

Prince Albert I honoured as Constitution turns 110

 

Photo of Prince Albert I of Monaco circa 1910

 

 

ASM to play its part in fight against cancer

by: Luke Entwistle
03/02/2022
monaco-life-news-monte-carlo-asm-cancer

Saturday night’s fixture against Lyon will not only be a meeting of two Ligue 1 giants, but recognition of the incredible work done by the Monaco Scientific Centre (CSM) and the Flavien Foundation.

To commemorate World Cancer Day, which takes place on 4th February, AS Monaco will highlight the CSM and the Flavien Foundation’s commitment in the fight against paediatric cancer on the 5th through auctions, jersey presentations and exclusive experiences.

Pre-match, AS Monaco Vice-President Oleg Petrov will offer a jersey to the organisations as a symbol of the club’s support.

The club will also stage a ‘My Wish’ experience, whereby two children, supported by the Flavien Foundation, will have the unique experience of watching the match from backstage. Their families, as well as other members of the Flavien Foundation, will be invited to attend the game.

Completing the club’s tribute is an auction of the jerseys worn by Monaco players on the night. The auction will begin on Sunday 6th on the MatchWornShirt platform and continue until 13th February, with the profits being shared 50/50 between the two organisations.

The CSM and the Flavien Foundation have been collaborating since 2015 in order to improve knowledge and develop potential therapies for paediatric cancer.

The announcement comes just days after the Principality hosted the Biennial Cancer Conference at the Grimaldi Forum, which was organised by the CSM and took place under the patronage of Prince Albert II.

AS Monaco’s fixture against Lorient next weekend will also commemorate the work done by local associations who work with children with cancer. World Child Cancer Day is on 15th February, with Monaco playing just two days before. The club will therefore invite fans and volunteers from local associations to enjoy the match at the Stade Louis II.