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Month: June 2022

Germans welcome new Monegasque Ambassador

by: Stephanie Horsman
27/06/2022

Monaco has posted Lorenzo Ravano as new Ambassador to represent the country in Berlin. He was welcomed in the German capital where he met with the German President.

Letters of Credence were presented by Monaco Ambassador Lorenzo Ravano to Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the President of Germany, last week at a ceremony held at the Château de Bellevue in Berlin.

The President and the Ambassador held a private concours after the ceremony, where it was reported the two men spoke about Europe and specifically the conflict in Ukraine and its reverberative effects throughout the continent and the world.

Ambassador Ravano assured President Steinmeier of Prince Albert II’s decisive condemnation of the aggressions against Ukraine and reminded him of the Prince’s calls for a both ceasefire and respect for international law.

The two spoke of Monaco’s actions thus far, including sanctions and, through the works of local humanitarian organisations, the supplying of equipment to the war-torn nation as well as by welcoming several refugee families to the Principality.

The German President praised Prince Albert’s ongoing commitment to protecting the environment, notably through his tireless work on ocean preservation. Ravano brought up the conference held last May, ‘Northbound – Connected by the Sea’, to highlight the Frisian culture and the convergences between the Mediterranean and the North Sea, as well as the Prince’s forthcoming participation in the 15th International Coral Reef Symposium in Bremen.

Finally, the President and the Ambassador discussed their wish to strengthen bilateral relations and cooperation in the diplomatic, economic and cultural fields. Ravano spelled out some synergistic areas, in particular within the framework of public digital transition policies implemented in the Principality through the Extended Monaco Programme, and with the festivities linked to the 50th anniversary of the creation of the German International Club of Monaco, which will take place in 2023.

Lorenzo Ravano is the 7th Ambassador of the Principality of Monaco to the Federal Republic of Germany.

 

Photo of German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier (right) and Lorenzo Livio Maria Ravano, Ambassador of Monaco to Germany, photo provided

 

 

 

 

 

Monaco Artist’s Forum showcases local talent

by: Stephanie Horsman
27/06/2022

The Monaco Artist’s Forum is back this year with an exhibition featuring the works of 80 visual artists from the Principality ranging from painting to sculpture to photography.

The biannual event organised by the Department of Cultural Affairs is being held at the Espace Léo Ferré on the 2nd and 3rd of July.

Around 80 local amateur and professional artists will be on hand at the event, where the aim is to promote the integration of artists from the Principality into cultural policy and highlight the vitality of local artistic creation in the field of visual arts.

As in previous editions, a Public Prize will be awarded, giving people the opportunity to choose their favourite pieces. Voting takes place online at www.forumdesartistes.mc between 16th and 30th June.

The winning work will receive a place of pride at the Espace Léo Ferré over the two days of the exhibition and from dedicated communication on the various social networks linked to the event.

 

 

 

ASM boutique signs up to reduce environmental impact

by: Luke Entwistle
27/06/2022

The AS Monaco football club boutique and jersey provider Kappa have become members of the government’s environmental label, a move that comes with some serious commitments to the environment.

In aligning themselves with the governmental initiative, AS Monaco have committed to reducing their plastic usage, limiting their energy consumption as well as their greenhouse gas emissions, developing alternative sources of energy, recycling and a policy of responsible supply.

The partnership was made official recently during a presentation at AS Monaco’s official boutique, which featured the government’s Environmental Manager Valérie Davenet, AS Monaco’s Commercial Director Tyson Henly and Kappa’s Retail Manager Laurent Loutz.

Sustainable development is one of the primary focuses of Prince Albert II’s government, and AS Monaco’s commitment to the certification label now means that 100 professionals have now joined the programme.

As a member, AS Monaco will be personally accompanied to perfect and adopt environmental practices, and is committed to putting in place at least one eco-responsible practice at the boutique each year.

Prior to this partnership, Kappa and AS Monaco had already put in place a number of eco-friendly practices, such as decreasing the use of non-recyclable materials, whilst also manufacturing products in Europe so as to decrease their carbon footprint.

Beyond the boutique, AS Monaco, as an institution, has also adopted many other eco-friendly initiatives. Most recently, the club developed the MuneGo application, which promotes car-sharing for home and away games, providing a means of attending games throughout France whilst decreasing the environmental impact that such trips ordinarily have.

Nevertheless, the boutique, the club itself and the kit provider all endeavour to do more, and their commitment to the government’s certification label is a concrete manifestation of those efforts to continue to adopt environmentally-friendly practices at a time where eco-politics has never been so important.

 

 

 

Analysis | AS Monaco’s model paying dividends

by: Luke Entwistle
25/06/2022

Often considered mutually exclusive elements, AS Monaco are the embodiment of the utopian idea that sales and success can go hand-in-hand.

Since 2014, Monaco have sold over €1bn worth of players, but miraculously in that time they have finished on the Ligue 1 podium seven times, and even won the league in 2016/17. Only PSG have a better record.

Many of those that ply their trade at the very top level, have passed through the Principality club. The most high-profile being Kylian Mbappé, who left the club in 2017 having formed part of the exceptional 2016/17 side that not only won the league, but also reached the Champions League semi-finals. Despite his departure, initially on loan and then sold for €180m to Ligue 1 rivals PSG following that campaign, Monaco still reached the Champions League quarter finals, and finished second in the league the following year.

But whilst the list isn’t completely inexhaustive, many of their former players bolster the ranks of teams across Europe. Bernardo Silva (€50m) at Manchester City, Fabinho (€45) at Liverpool, Youri Tielemans (€45) at Leicester are amongst those to have prospered since leaving the Principality club.

Some, however, produced their best football at the Stade Louis II, but have failed to reproduce that form elsewhere. James Rodriguez (€75m), Benjamin Mendy, whose €57m fee was a world record fee for a defender at the time, Thomas Lemar (€72m), Tiémoué Bakayoko (€40m) and Anthony Martial (€60m) fall into that category. The grass isn’t always greener on the other side, and whilst those moves didn’t work for all parties, they did for Monaco, who wisely reinvested, and in doing so ensured their continued success.

Speaking in a press conference on Tuesday, Monaco sporting director Paul Mitchell spoke to Monaco Life about the club’s model. “I can only speak for the last two seasons that I’ve been here,” the Englishman began. “I think that balance is one of the most difficult things to find in modern football. We’ve seen a drastic change in strategy for many clubs, even some of the biggest in the world, in terms of recruiting younger and younger profiles to add a level of sustainability of sales, while also keeping that will and demand to win. That’s definitely where we see ourselves – in that competitive market and space,” he added.

Whilst other major European powers are trying to mirror Monaco’s model, they are not finding the same level of success. Barcelona are the quintessential example of this. The club, in financial turmoil over the past few years, have seen a need to recruit younger players, and bring more players through the academy, as they did in the early 2000’s. However, as they sell (or release as it was with Lionel Messi) some of their most prized assets in order to balance the books, Barcelona have compromised their success. A Champions League stalwart and serial winner of La Liga, they went out in the group stages of European competition last season, before being beaten by Frankfurt in the Europa League. Real Madrid also won the domestic division at a canter.

Monaco are a step ahead in that regard. As Mitchell rightly pointed out, he can only speak from his experience at the club, but the club’s record since the Rybolovlev takeover a decade ago shows a strategy of recruiting young, high potential players and selling them for big profits. Whilst others are grappling with the new financial realities of elite football, Monaco have long since adopted a more sustainable approach, and are reaping the rewards from it.

The approach is holistic and highly youth-oriented. Whilst the recruitment department are responsible for some high-profit margin finds, such as Tchouaméni (€82m profit), Fabinho (€39m profit), Martial (€55m profit) and Lemar (€68m profit) their academy is also an assembly line for elite level talent.

Mitchell told Monaco Life about the changes at the club since his arrival, which facilitate such profits: “A couple of years ago we felt that we didn’t quite have the talent pool at our disposal, so we made changes within our recruitment, within our talent ID, within our environment to harness more talented players and bring them to the next level. That was definitely a conscious strategy change for the club, and then by performing and creating a culture that can develop some of these guys, you see the bi-product is always higher valuations, which usually leads to higher player sales.”

Whether coming through the academy, or signing from another club, there is an “environment” at Monaco that is conducive to personal development and progression, and that is the cornerstone of the project.

According to CIES, in the first seven game weeks of last season, Monaco fielded the youngest side of any other team in Europe’s top-five divisions. In November 2020 Monaco were ranked 11th for the amount of players that they had trained and who were currently playing in Europe’s top-five divisions, whilst nine academy players have featured for the first team in the last two years.

Although many players move on, their impact whilst at the club contributes to the continued success at the club, and helps keep the project attractive to future generations of elite young talent. “I think we worked incredibly hard internally to make sure we’re bringing specialisms, skill practitioners, and cultivating an environment where players can flourish and go on to achieve their career ambitions. I think those things help us recruit players,” said Mitchell.

AS Monaco were one of the first clubs in the French division to construct a training centre back in the 1970’s thanks to president at the time Jean-Louis Campora. Just like during that era, Monaco still occupy a place at the cutting edge, reconciling sales and success and keeping their ambition intact.

 

 

Photo source: AS Monaco 

 

 

 

 

Monaco Energy Boat Challenge: “Time now for action!”

by: Stephanie Horsman
25/06/2022

With people from over 20 countries making up 35 teams competing in three different classes, the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge is taking the ideas of today to create a sustainable boating culture for tomorrow.

The Monaco Energy Boat Challenge, now in its 9th edition, is an international event open to the public, welcoming professionals and innovators from around the globe to race in watercraft they have fashioned themselves. The catch is that these boats must be run using eco-friendly means and can be built to fall into one of three categories: Energy, Solar or Open Sea Class.

The races have created a platform where teams can freely share information and expertise bridging a gap between engineers and industry leaders where sustainable technology reigns supreme. 

Organised by the Yacht Club of Monaco, the International Powerboating Federation and the Prince Albert II Foundation, the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge is unique in the world. It will be held from 4th to 9th July.

“Faced with environmental and technical challenges that require an urgent response to move forward, the Yacht Club de Monaco aims to be the driving force behind a new vision for yachting and to promote any positive approaches through this unique event,” say the organisers.

They go on to explain that the “Yacht Club de Monaco is an incubator that supports yachting research and development. This event aims to stimulate the creativity of tomorrow’s engineers and the industry to develop propulsion methods using clean energy. We want to provide a platform for exchanges and meetings through a conference, Tech Talks and Exhibition.”

The three classes give some flexibility in which type of clean energy to use when designing the boats. In the Energy Class, each team is given the same hull design but then it’s up to them to come up with the most powerful and long-lasting way to keep the engines running. They are given a “quantity” of energy they are allowed to use, making this trickier than it first sounds. The teams then compete in races involving manoeuvrability, speed and endurance.  

The Solar Class is pretty self-explanatory. All boats must be run using the energy generated by the sun. They compete in endurance, slalom and match races.

In the Open Sea Class, seacraft are primarily ones that are already on the market or just on the cusp of being launched. Their race involves a gruelling 16 nautical mile race from Monaco to Ventimiglia to test manoeuvrability. They also undergo an endurance race to scope out range capabilities.

The week is a chance to see new technologies in action, for example the flexible solar fabric recently acquired by YCM as part of its sustainable approach to optimise energy usage linked to nautical events.

Placed on a battery pack, the system produces electricity that is fed back into the YCM grid, like that generated by floating solar panels installed in a partnership with gas and electricity company SMEG. Meanwhile, a pontoon producing green hydrogen from renewable energy sources will be moored in the YCM Marina thanks to SBM Offshore whose SBM E-Racing Team will be refuelling their boat from this facility. Additionally, EODev will demonstrate a 100kVA electro-hydrogen zero emission GEH2 generator. 

 

Michelin-starred Yoshi goes al fresco for summer nights

by: Cassandra Tanti
24/06/2022

Yoshi fans can now enjoy their favourite Michelin-star cuisine poolside as the Metropole Hotel takes its renowned Japanese restaurant to the Karl Lagerfeld-designed Odyssey rooftop terrace for the summer months.

Yoshi, the intimate dining room located on the ground floor of the Hôtel Metropole Monte-Carlo, got its Michelin star by “paying tribute to Japanese cuisine with premium ingredients and flawless technique”, according to the coveted guide. It remains the only Japanese restaurant in all of Monaco and the French Riviera to receive such an accolade.

Chef Takeo Yamazaki, 14 years at the helm, and his team are experts in creating picture-perfect nigiris, makis, sashimi, and teppanyaki fish and meat dishes, which are accompanied by the finest sakes, whiskeys and Japanese green teas that have been carefully selected by the head sommelier.

Now, the chefs are taking their talents to the rooftop kitchen where they will prepare their traditional cuisine for guests to enjoy al fresco by the swimming pool terrace and glamorous setting created by world-famous fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld.

The Odyssey terrace, photo by the Metropole Hotel

“The decision to bring Yoshi to Odyssey was initiated by our guests who wished to be able to enjoy an al fresco gastronomic offer,” Serge Ethuin, Genereal Manager of the Hôtel Metropole Monte-Carlo, told Monaco Life. “After consultation with chefs Christophe Cussac, Takeo Yamazaki and the catering team, we decided to grant our customers’ wishes.”

With its giant palm trees, cascades of wisteria and subtle notes of jasmine, the terrace and gardens form a veritable oasis in the heart of Monte-Carlo; a relaxing place to spend an evening with refreshing, light, Japanese cuisine.

Ebi Shinjo, one of the chef’s signature dishes. Photo courtesy Studio Phenix

During a press event on Wednesday 22nd June, we were treated to Chef Takeo Yamazaki’s signature dishes: Ebi Shinjo – a kombu consommé with a deliciously light and flavourful shrimp ball; Omakase – a selection of sushis and sashimis; and Ghindara – black cod marinated for 72 hours, perfectly grilled, and served in a decorative leaf accompanied by a warm miso broth.

Every ingredient, every creation, every plate is of extraordinary quality. Course after course is a delicious surprise.

Featured alongside each dish was a premium sake, Dassai 21. We learned that the number represents the degree to which the rice has been milled or polished. So, in Dassai 21, the rice grains have been polished so much that only 21% of the grains have actually been used. The lower the number, the more polished the rice grain and the higher quality the sake.

Shake by Yoshi, photo courtesy Metropole Hotel

The rooftop traditionally houses Odyssey, a fixture in the hotel since 2013, headed by Chef Christophe Cussac and his Mediterranean-inspired menu. The Odyssey terrace restaurant is still open for guests during the day, between 12pm and 5pm.

“Since the opening on 17th June, we have been almost fully booked every night,” reveals Ethuin. “The guests love to have access to this glamorous setting created by Karl Lagerfeld, they also appreciate dining in this oasis in the heart of Monte-Carlo.

We believe that Lagerfeld would have been very proud to see Yoshi set up in the place he created because, for him, Yoshi was the best Japanese restaurant in Europe.”

Yoshi at Odyssey is open from Tuesday to Saturday, 7.30pm to 10.30pm, until the end of September.

Click on the gallery below to see more photos by Monaco Life of Yoshi at Odyssey…