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Day: 9 January 2023

Nice to host Ironman World Championship later this year

by: Luke Entwistle
09/01/2023

The city of Nice has entered into a rotation with Hawaii and will host the 2023 edition of the Ironman World Championship in September.

The Riviera city will co-host the event. Whilst the men’s edition will take place in Nice on 10th September, the women’s edition will take place in Kona, Hawaii, which is considered the home of the Ironman event, on 14th October. The opposite will be the case in 2024, and this rotation will continue until 2026, it has been announced.

The Ironman competition is a gruelling athletic event, consisting of a 3.8km swim, 180km bike race and 42km run. The Côte d’Azur city has already hosted an Ironman-stamped event back in 20o5, becoming the first French city to do so. The city has also hosted an international triathlon since 1982, and is considered the central hub for such long-distance events in Europe.

A logistical challenge in Hawaii has given birth to this new co-hosting partnership. The organisation had hoped to run both the men’s and women’s race in Hawaii in October, but when it became clear that this wouldn’t be possible, the change was made, much to the benefit of Nice and the local area that now adds another elite sporting event to its annual calendar – at least until 2026.

In a press release, Andrew Messick, the president and CEO for the Ironman group said, “We are thankful for Mayor Estrosi and the City of Nice, who share in our vision of creating a truly legendary world championship event, which will be enjoyed first by the men in 2023, and then by the women in 2024.”

“With Nice’s history as the European birthplace of long-course triathlon, and Hawaii so firmly engrained in our Ironman DNA, these co-hosting locations are harmonious in honouring both the roots of long-distance triathlon while also embracing the future,” he continued.

 

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Photo by Ivan Blanco Vilar

 

Emma, Leonardo most popular baby names in 2022

by: Cassandra Tanti
09/01/2023

The top five names for new born girls and boys in Monaco have been revealed in the Mairie’s annual Civil Status report. Here are some other interesting facts on births, deaths and marriages last year.

It is the tradition of the Mairie de Monaco to present the birth, marriages and deaths figures at the start of every new year.

The Civil Status figures for the year 2022, released on Monday, show that there were significantly less births in Monaco in 2022: 862 compared to 976 in 2021. But there were more marriages last year, with 191 compared to 181 the previous year.

The number of divorces remained the same at 58, while the number of deaths fell significantly, from 603 to 528.

There was a relatively even number of boys and girls born in the Principality, with 427 females and 435 males. Almost all of the babies were born in the maternity ward of the Princess Grace Hospital Centre, while one birth took place at home.

In a reflection of the changing nature of families nowadays, almost half of all children born in Monaco were to parents who were not married, while 237 of the families were Monaco residents, and 625 lived outside of the Principality, primarily in Menton (212), Roquebrune-Cap-Martin (75), and Beausoleil (94).

The five most popular girls for names were Emma, Victoria, Alice, Chloé and Stella, while for the boys it was Leonardo, Gabriel, Raphaël, Aaron and Louis.

Of the 191 marriages conducted in Monaco in 2022, eight marriages united two people of Monegasque nationality; 46 Monegasque men married a woman of foreign nationality; and 34 Monegasque women married a foreign husband.

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Photo by Michal Bar Haim on Unsplash

End of free bus trips and ticket machines in Monaco

by: Stephanie Horsman
09/01/2023

Since the free bus service in the Principality ended last week, a number of ticket machines have also disappeared, leaving passengers at certain stops at a loose end.

Monaco’s quest to become a totally digital society has taken another step forward, with the elimination of paper ticket machines at two bus stops and the planned removal of the other 11 distributors pending.

As of 3rd January, buying single or 10-ticket cards from ticket machines on Boulevard de Belgique and at Place d’Armes is no longer possible. This event coincided with the day that the trial period for free bus service ended, making for some confusion. For those who have been caught aware, the option of buying a ticket on board still exists, though at a premium.

The reason for the seemingly sudden turn of events is the government’s desire to gradually ease the public into the idea of purchasing tickets online or via smartphone. This can be done several ways, including by downloading the Monapass app, using the QR codes located at bus stops around the Principality, purchasing a rechargeable bus card or by buying tickets with a credit card via Open Payment.

“The [Open Payment] method has been gaining momentum since it was put into service and is working very well,” the government says, with the Compagnie des Autobus de Monaco (CAM) adding, “When you get on the bus, you validate your transport ticket with your bank card. By taking this option, the most attractive fare will be applied.”

In practical terms, this means that if a person takes several bus trips in a day, the fare will be adjusted to give users the best rate automatically. This approach also applies for weekly and monthly usage. To go this route, passengers can visit www.cam.mc and create an account.

 

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Photo source: Monaco Communications Department

Roca Team consolidate top spot after narrow victory

by: Luke Entwistle
09/01/2023

AS Monaco Basketball made a late break to secure a hard-earned victory against Pau-Lacq-Orthez (83-77) on Sunday, consolidating their position as outright leaders of the Betclic Elite.

The stars were in attendance at the Salle Gaston Médecin. The Princely family, as well as AS Monaco players Youssouf Fofana and Axel Disasi watched on as Sasa Obradovic’s side registered 13 points without reply in the opening quarter. Donatas Motiejunas (12 points) and Alpha Diallo (10 points) both found success from outside the arc during that run, whilst Mike James (22 points), who has found his influence limited in recent games, made a welcome return to form.

However, Pau, currently languishing in the lower-mid table, fought back and decreased the lead by the end of the first quarter (25-20). After Cholet’s win the day before, Monaco needed to reply in order to retain their title as outright leader of the championship, and that result came into question as Pau came back again in the second quarter, dropping the Roca Team’s advantage to just three points.

Pau continued to cling on and eventually drew level with Monaco with just 60 seconds on the clock in the fourth quarter (77-77). The Principality side hadn’t managed their possessions well, but they made their final few count, with a mix of missed free-throws from Pau and a clutch James and Elie Okobo (10 points) securing six unreplied points, and saving the day.

Monaco have a tight turnaround and will welcome Olympiacos back to the Salle Gaston Médecin on Tuesday in a repeat of last year’s classic playoff match-up. The Roca Team go into that tie as one of five teams, including Olympiacos, level on 11 wins at the top of the Euroleague.

 

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Photo by AS Monaco Basket

Relaxing of rules for owners who miss Contrôle Technique deadline

by: Stephanie Horsman
09/01/2023

The changes to Monaco’s previously strict procedure for vehicle owners who miss the important deadline may come as a surprise…  

Every vehicle owner in Monaco and France will be well-acquainted with the Contrôle Technique, a mandatory check-up for cars and other vehicles that ensures transport is road-worthy and operating within certain standards.  

The rules for compliance in Monaco have previously been quite strict, with owners who did not carry out their inspection before the expiry period being removed from the registration records, asked to turn in their car registration and license plates, and be prohibited from driving the vehicle on public roadways.  

As of 4th January, the government has lessened the penalties inflicted on non-compliant vehicle owners and has created a system to help remind them of their responsibility, giving them plenty of time to get to a garage.  

“The cancellations forced the owner to take long and costly steps to regularise the situation of the vehicle,” says the head of the Traffic Licensing Service, Aurélie Peri. “The Traffic Licensing Service thus wished to simplify the procedure to facilitate the completion of the procedures for users.”  

Now, four months before a vehicle is due in for a Contrôle Technique, owners will receive a notice to prompt them into making an appointment. Another letter will be sent one month before the expiration date for good measure.  

If the owner is a no-show after the end date, the vehicle will not be allowed to circulate on public roads, but, unlike before, will not be deregistered.  

At this point, owners must request an appointment, which can be made online, pay the related costs and also pay to have the vehicle regularised by the government so that bans are lifted.  

Until the date of the Contrôle Technique, the driver will not be able to use the vehicle and can only drive it on the day of the appointment in order to go to the inspection centre.  

The government is hoping the new rules will prevent tardiness in taking care of this necessary responsibility.  

 

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Photo source: Monaco Communications Department

Paris-Nice peloton to pass through La Turbie in March

by: Luke Entwistle
09/01/2023

The route of the 81st edition of the Paris-Nice race has been unveiled and the peloton will pass through La Turbie and Èze before finishing on the Promenade des Anglais on 12th March. 

Over the course of a week, the peloton will make its way from the French capital of Paris towards the Riviera. They will reach their destination – Nice – on 11th March before tackling the arrière-pays the same day.

On the final day of competition, the peloton will complete a loop, which will see them fly through the coastal villages of La Turbie and Èze before heading back to Nice, where the iconic race will conclude on the Promenade des Anglais.

At 520m above sea level, the La Turbie summit will be the third-highest to be mounted on the final day of racing, then will then be a slight descent towards Èze (519m) and the Col d’Èze (490m) as they descend towards the finish line.

Those taking place will look to succeed Slovenian rider Primoz Roglic, who won last year’s race, but who is a doubt to compete this year after undergoing shoulder surgery.

For the shortest stage, but arguably the most beautiful, cycling fans will have the chance to watch cycling’s elite take on the corniches of the Riviera just over a year before the Principality hosts a stage of the Tour de France for the first time since 1947.

 

SEE MORE:

Monaco to host start of final stage of Tour de France

 

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Photo by Ivan Blanco Vilar