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Month: May 2022

Roca Team learn play-off opponents

by: Luke Entwistle
18/05/2022

The Betclic Elite regular season was wrapped-up on Tuesday. AS Monaco Basketball’s defeat against Cholet (92-85) was ultimately inconsequential to the final ranking, as they prepare to face Strasbourg in the play-offs.

Having collapsed in the third-quarter against Limoges and then magnificently risen from the ashes in the fourth, Monaco couldn’t quite pull off the unthinkable against Cholet despite a late rally.

With the play-offs in mind, Donata Motiejunas and Dwayne Bacon didn’t make the trip, although the experienced Mike James and Will Thomas were both in the starting five. Truthfully, the Roca Team were but a bystander in La Meilleraie; the night belonged to Cholet, who in recent weeks have risen up the table in a manner not dissimilar to Monaco’s Euroleague trevails, to clinch the final play-off spot.

Cholet began like a team that, unlike the Principality side, had something to play for. Spurred-on by their home fans, they took an early lead. Monaco hit back in the second-quarter, although neither side could pull away. Thomas’ two free-throws before the half-time buzzer gave the away side a slender lead (42-40).

The match was decided on the return from the dressing rooms. Just as they had over the weekend, the Roca Team were absent in the third-quarter and were duly punished for it. Conceding 30-points, whilst scoring just 14 of their own, they had a mountain to climb in the fourth-quarter, and unlike in recent weeks, they couldn’t make it to the summit.

Seven consecutive points from James sparked a miniature revival, but Monaco couldn’t stop leaking points, making the 12-point gap a difficult one to close. Cholet ran out deserved winners (92-85) as the home fans invaded the court at full-time to celebrate their first qualification to the play-offs for 10 years.

As manager Sasa Obradovic said recently, first place looked unrealistic and second-place looked assured. So it played out. Monaco finished second and will now play Strasbourg, who beat them in overtime in the French Basketball Cup in March.

A difficult task therefore awaits Monaco, but one that they will go into as favourites. The best-of-three tie kicks off at the Salle Gaston Medecin next Wednesday.

 

Photo source: AS Monaco Basketball

 

 

 

Racing stars rally for charity football match

by: Luke Entwistle
18/05/2022

Francesco Totti is the latest blockbuster name to be confirmed for next Tuesday’s World Stars Football Match, joining a whole grid’s worth of Formula 1 greats, both past and present.

The match will take place at the Stade Louis II, and the build-up to the star-studded event is only intensifying. AS Roma legend Francesco Totti, who made 619 appearances for the Italian club, as well as winning the World Cup with the Italian national side, is the latest to join the AS Star Team for the Children MC, managed by Claudio Ranieri and current France manager Didier Deschamps.

Joining Totti will be team captain Prince Albert II, Louis Ducruet, AS Monaco legends Jerome Rothen and Ludovic Giuly, two-time Monte-Carlo Masters winner Stefanos Tsitsipas, Nico Rosberg, ROKiT Venturi Racing team principal Jérôme d’Ambrosio and many more.

For the F1 Drivers Team, almost the entire 2022 grid will be present, including current World Champion Max Verstappen and the current Monégasque Championship leader Charles Leclerc. The latter also featured in the Fight Aids Cup back in January.

The event will open the 79th Formula 1 Grand Prix week and the funds raised will go towards helping children in need all over the world. Speaking before the event, Totti said, “I am proud to be a part of this team and this charity event. I have always made every effort so that football and sport can help children and new generations all over the world. It will be a great joy for me to become part of Prince Albert II of Monaco’s team and play a game that represents these values.”

Mauro Serra, AS Star Team for the Children MC Executive President added, “This year is very important because we celebrate 30 years of our association and we will play this unique game for the 29th time.”

The event is free to attend for U14s provided they are accompanied by an adult. Tickets go on sale from Saturday, and can be purchased at the Stade Louis II Stadium ticket office from 09:00-18:00 up until game day, with prices ranging from €12-15 for adults.

The event is a great opportunity to watch the stars of football and F1 come together, as the build-up to one of the most important dates in the Monégasque calendar begins, and does so for a positive, charitable cause.

 

 

 

Yannick Alléno to help other victims following son’s death

by: Cassandra Tanti
17/05/2022

Multi-Michelin starred Chef Yannick Alléno will create an association for the victims of repeat offenders following the recent death of his son in a tragic road accident in Paris.

Yannick Alléno had just opened his new restaurant in Monaco, the Pavyllon at the Hermitage Hotel, when he got word that his son had been involved in a violent accident in Paris on Sunday 8th May.

24-year-old Antoine Alléno, a talented young chef who was following in the footsteps of his father, died after the scooter he was driving was hit by a stolen vehicle at traffic lights. The driver was reportedly a repeat offender known by police and wanted on drink driving charges. After fleeing the scene on foot and being apprehended by an off-duty police officer, the alleged offender was charged with aggravated manslaughter.

On Saturday 14th May, the day after the funeral of his son, Yannick Alléno announced on his Instagram account that he would be creating an association in Antoine’s name.

“I just understood this morning only the loss that will haunt me all my life so its energy lodged deep in my body will be used, through the association ‘Antoine Alleno’ to support the victims of repeat offenders. #antoinealléno #monange #mylove”

Yannick Alléno thanked the “thousands of strong and loving arms” that were at the funeral in Poissy, including French politician Rachida Dati and First Lady Brigitte Macron.

Photo of Yannick Alléno by Monaco Life

 

 

 

La Compagnie returns to offer business-only travel to US

by: Cassandra Tanti
17/05/2022

The 100% Business Class airline La Compagnie is back operating flights between Nice and New York, but this time it has a new aircraft that uses around a third less fuel. And they’re not the only ones using this more eco-friendly airbus.

La Compagnie is a French owned, 100% Smart Business Class airline that launched its first New York to Nice flight for the 2022 season on Saturday 7th May. It will be operating three flights a week on this route on its new Airbus A321neo until 27th September 2022.

The aircraft has 76 sleeper seats, as opposed to the standard layout of 230 seats, and provides free unlimited Wi-Fi and healthy seasonal food “for a unique business class experience”.

The A321neo is able to carry out long-haul flights with a reduced carbon footprint as it uses 30% less fuel than previous aircraft.

“This year, with the health restrictions being lifted in France and the United States, as well as the efforts that all of our employees have put into development, we are already seeing a real enthusiasm for our route and for the exciting city of New York,” said Christian Vernet, President of La Compagnie. “People always want to travel, and our high-quality product on board a modern plane and the excellent value for money attract a lot of customers.”

Meanwhile, Air Transat has resumed flights between Nice and Montreal on the same AirbusA321neo. During the peak season, Air Transat will offer two direct flights each week between Nice and Montreal.

“It’s a pleasure, both for the airport and for our entire region, to have Air Transat, a faithful partner of Nice Côte d’Azur, back to further connect it to North America,” said Franck Goldnadel, Chairman of the Board of Aéroports de la Côte d’Azur. “We also want to acknowledge the prolonged commitment, now lasting three years, to operating these flights with some of the greenest planes out there, which aligns with our commitment to decarbonating air transport.”

United Airlines opened its Nice to Newark flights also in ea rly May.

SEE ALSO:

Monaco makes the most of new Riviera to New York flight

Photo source: Nice Côte d’Azur airport

 

 

 

MEB makes business ties with USA, Vietnam and Djibouti

by: Cassandra Tanti
17/05/2022

The Monaco Economic Board has accomplished three missions with three very different entities in the past month, starting with a trip to the United States, followed by two locally-based forums with Vietnam and Djibouti.

It’s been a busy few weeks for the Monaco Economic Board (MEB), who have been on the go and on the ground forging new relationships with countries around the globe, notably the USA, Vietnam and Djibouti.

Guillaume Rose, Executive Director of the MEB, explains that “By multiplying the meetings with quality interlocutors from all over the world, we strive to offer a maximum of business opportunities to Monegasque companies with an international outlook. These actions are intended to make Monaco a business hub within Southern Europe, and to further strengthen our strong appeal to economic decision-makers around the world. In this regard, we welcome the recent appointment of Frédéric Genta. This is an asset that can help tip the balance of economic decisions in our favour.”

On 29th April, MEB reps Michel Dotta, Justin Highman and Guillaume Rose visited the American state of Indiana where they were received by Governor Eric Holcomb and his Secretary of Commerce Bradley Chambers. They were treated to a business luncheon and later,a cocktail event, where several MEB member companies were in attendance.

Governor Holcomb is pushing for interactivity between his state and Europe, and the connections and opportunities between the Principality and Indiana were strengthened via discussions on energy transitions, electric car technology, sustainability and innovation, and of course, motorsport with the Andretti Autosport team taking part in the Formula E race.

Europe is one of the leading regions for Indiana in terms of foreign direct investment and business ties. Within this region, Monaco enjoys an excellent image with Indiana, particularly for the dynamism of its yachting sector, but also for its resilience in times of crisis.

From left to right: Philippe Ortelli, Jean-Jacques Robin, Youssouf Moussa Dawaleh, Frédéric Geerts, Guillaume Rose, Ayeid Mousseid Yahya, Alexis Mohamed, Jordana Remon-Coubeche, Justin Highman. Photo by MEB/ Carte Blanche

On 4th May, the MEB organised an economic conference dedicated to Vietnam at the Novotel Monte-Carlo. Vietnam, considered one of the “Asian Tiger” countries, is looking at a 6% GDP rebound in 2022, making them an attractive place to do business with. Additionally, the country of 98 million has opened up to free trade agreements with Europe in recent times, making them a good alternative to the Chinese.

Toan Thang DINH, Ambassador of Vietnam in France and Monaco, and Quôc Cuong DAO, in charge of investment promotion, presented the economic assets of their country to about 50 key leaders, before the Asian delegation visited two Monaco companies who are already active in their nation, 3xEngineering and SIAMP CEDAP.

Finally, on 9th May, the Monaco Economic Board, in partnership with the Club of Monegasque Entrepreneurs in Africa (CEMA), represented by its President

Frédéric Geerts and his Secretary General Denis Ruyant, organised an economic forum intended to intensify business relations between Monaco and the Republic of Djibouti, a country with a population of one million that enjoys a strategic location at the entrance to the Red Sea.

Bilateral economic presentations started off the day, leading to the signing of memoranda of understanding between the Chamber of Commerce of Djibouti and the MEB as well as a BtoB meeting session.

Maritime transport was the primary focus, but hardly the only, with meetings dedicated to finance, renewable energies, tourism, logistics and telecoms on the agenda. In the end, over 60 meetings brought Monaco and Djiboutian business people together.

During their stay in the Principality, the members of the Djiboutian delegation also visited members of “Team Monaco” who work to promote the Principality’s international influence: the MonacoTech incubator-accelerator, the Monaco Scientific Center and the Oceanographic Museum.

 

Photo: Frédéric Genta and Guillaume Rose with Eric Holcomb and the delegation in Indiana, by MEB/Carte Blanche

 

 

Revealed: the A-listers to be honoured at Monaco Streaming Film Festival

by: Stephanie Horsman
17/05/2022

Some of Hollywood’s biggest names will be given accolades at the upcoming Monaco Streaming Film Festival’s Gala Awards ceremony, the only festival that is solely focused on video-on-demand content.

The 2nd Monaco Streaming Film Festival, running from 31st May to 2nd June at the Grimaldi Forum, is presenting a grand finale with the Streaming Awards Gala on Friday 3rd June at Le Meridien Beach Plaza Hotel.

The gala will feature some of Tinseltown’s biggest names, including Avatar writer and director James Cameron, who will be receiving the Reg Grundy Innovation Award, Bond-series producer Barbara Broccoli, celebrities Jeff Fahey, Victoria Smurfit, Mark Wahlberg, and Patricia Arquette, to name but a few.

As reported on by Monaco Life in April, the event, created by Tony Davis, is a powerful forum for the streaming content community, giving players a chance to network, communicate more easily and learn about the latest opportunities in this not-so-niche part of the entertainment industry.

Additionally, there will be free premieres and screenings to highlight some of the newest offerings in the streaming content world. Upward of a hundred films will be presented over the three-day period, made up of 20 feature length offerings and 80 shorts. There are also three black tie premiere evenings, which require advance tickets and include a cocktail event preceding the screening.

The festival itself will have a series of summits, conferences, keynotes and panel discussions with people in the know in video-on-demand (VOD) production and distribution, including talks on the future of Ad-based VOD (AVOD), Subscription VOD (SVOD) and Transactional VOD (TVOD) models.

For more info on the Festival and the Gala, visit the website on https://streamingff.com.

 

SEE ALSO: 

Monaco Streaming Film Festival prepares for powerful return