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Day: 16 February 2023

3,000 security jobs at the Paris Olympics up for grabs

by: Stephanie Horsman
16/02/2023
paris olympics

As we inch closer to the 2024 Paris Olympics and Paralympics, organisers are on the hunt for 3,000 student candidates to fill security positions, with perks like paid training being part of the deal.  

Having ‘security agent at the 2024 Olympic Games’ on a CV would certainly make a person stand out, and for 3,000 lucky student candidates, that is exactly what they will have.  

Organisers of the Olympic and Paralympic Games are recruiting security officers to carry out access controls and general safety posts at Olympic sites, including the Olympic village, media centres and VIP areas.  

Applicants must follow a 106-hour paid training course offered by the Pôle Emploi, consisting of two weeks of face-to-face study and a third week of remote training. Completion of the course allows the applicant to obtain a professional card valid until October 2025, which is required for security agents working at events of more than 300 people.  

Being part of the biggest event ever organised in France – an estimated 15 million spectators will flood the city – comes with some perks. In addition to the free training, selected candidates will have access to the Games and be able to witness this once-in-a-lifetime event from the inside.  

Additionally, after the Olympics are over, the professional card will still be valid for more than a year, opening the door to other security-related opportunities at sporting matches, concerts and festivals.  

For more information or to sign up for the course visit here. 

    

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Photo source: Unsplash

2022 weather review: extreme heat and drought are the new norm for Monaco

by: Stephanie Horsman
16/02/2023
weather monaco

The year 2022 was marked by successive heat waves, record temperatures and 30% less rainfall, according to a new IMSEE report, sparking fears of a dangerous transition into unchartered territory.  

The report just released by Monaco statistics agency IMSEE shows a year marked by higher-than-usual average temperatures and significant rainfall deficits.  

Tracking by scientists has shown that the trend over the past 50 years has been heat increasing with each consecutive decade and last year was no exception, with the overall average temperature being 1.4ºC hotter than normal. The year-round average now sits at 18.2ºC.  

More notable perhaps is the fact that not a single day dropped below freezing in 2022, with the minimum temperature the mildest ever recorded at 5.3ºC, and the average minimum sitting at a balmy 15.6ºC. 

Temperatures were above average from May to September, with the hottest day of last year, 20th July, reaching 35.1ºC. Two major heatwaves punctuated the summer from 17th to 21st July then again on its heels from 30th July to 10th August. During these two periods, the minimum temperatures were a toasty 25.9ºC and 24.9ºC, with daytime temperatures regularly over the 31ºC mark.  

Three months saw lower temperatures than 2021 – February, March and September – but they were only very slightly lower, being 0.1ºC, 0.4ºC and 0.3ºC respectively.  

2022 was also a particularly dry year, with only 476mm of rainfall compared to the norm of 794mm, making it the fourth driest year on record. Rainy days were also significantly less. There were 20 less days with rainfall than to be expected considering averages gleaned over the past three decades. Rainfall totals were less as well, with the maximum of any rainy day only seeing 46mm, three times less than the previous decade averages.  

Finally, sunshine prevailed last year, with 7.26 hours of sun per day, compared to 6.97 the previous year, and a cumulative 2,650 hours in total.  

 

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Photo by Monaco Life

Podcast: This Week in Monaco 16th February

by: Cassandra Tanti
16/02/2023

The Monaco Life journalists behind the headlines this week talk Carnival fever in the French Riviera, Monaco hits historically high temps, Nice lands UN Ocean Conference, parents get screen time guidance, Monaco’s new vintage bar Maona, and pension strikes roll on.

To listen to the podcast, click play below.

 

Winter air pollution peak: what is the impact and how long will it last?

by: Cassandra Tanti
16/02/2023

The French Riviera and the Var, like large parts of France, are experiencing a spike in winter air pollution, impacting health and instigating restrictions on driving and fireplaces. So, what impact is it having on human health and when will it end?

It’s easy to see air pollution in the summer – that haze of smog that settles along the horizon. But air quality also plummets in the winter time, we just can’t see it as clearly.

For several days now, the Alpes-Maritimes and the Var departments have been subject to heavy air pollution, with both departments placed under heightened vigilance.

The culprit, in particular, is fine particle pollution, mainly linked to industrial activity, automobile exhaust, and wood heaters.

In winter, the cold air is denser and traps this fine particle pollution in place for much longer, allowing it to be breathed in at a higher rate than in the summer.

Who is most likely to feel the effects of winter pollution?

Pregnant women, young children and infants, people over 65, asthmatics, and individuals with cardiovascular or heart problems are most likely to feel the respiratory effects of fine particle pollution and should limit their exposure.

The best way to do that is to spend as little time outdoors as possible, with as little physical effort as possible. Engaging in sports activity, especially outdoors, can increase fine particle inhalation up to 20 times.

If someone has difficulty breathing or cardiac discomfort, they should see a health professional.

Vulnerable people should also avoid travel, particularly on major roads during rush hours, and postpone the use of chemical products if they plan on using them.

The rest of the population should try to limit the use of cars as much as possible to reduce their impact on the situation.

When are people most at risk?

Concentration in the air is heavier at the starat and the end of the day.

The situation is expected to improve from Saturday with the arrival of a mistral wind.

 

Photo source: Unsplash

Dubai to host special anniversary of Monte-Carlo Polo Cup

by: Stephanie Horsman
16/02/2023
monte-carlo polo cup

The 10th edition of the Monte-Carlo Polo Cup will be held next month in Dubai, showcasing the Principality’s top players against those from Morocco, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. 

Polo, with all the alluring visions this sport conjures up, is a fitting one to be played in a place as glamourous as Monaco. It evokes images of teams of riders perched on horses worth more than most people’s homes racing up and down a field whilst onlookers sip champagne and cheer them on. 

Since 2012, the Principality has had a team of its own thanks to Francesco Mitrano, the founder and president of the Monte-Carlo Polo Federation, who set up a club dedicated to this sport of kings. A year later, with the support of Monaco’s “top authorities”, the very first Monte-Carlo Polo Cup was held. 

The success of the first edition allowed the federation – and the event – to grow in prestige and popularity, attracting high-profile guests including royalty, government ministers, ambassadors and foreign dignitaries as well as partners, sponsors and patrons. 

This year, the Monte-Carlo Polo Cup’s 10th anniversary edition will be held on 11th and 12th March in Dubai, another place known for its glitz and glam. Four top international federations – Saudi Arabia, Morocco, the United Arab Emirates and, of course, Monaco – will go head-to-head under the desert sun. 

“We are confident that we will have representatives from the royal families of all the four countries mentioned with us,” says Francesco Mitrano. “We have big plans for the future, and soon we’ll have prestigious events in Rabat, Monte-Carlo and Riyadh. I just came back from an amazing trip to Saudi Arabia and I’m so excited for this new partnership.” 

Francesco Mitrano monte-carlo polo cup
Princess Charlene and Prince Albert pictured with Francesco Mitrano. Photo source: Monte-Carlo Polo Club

In addition to matches, the event will also set up meetings and conferences designed to attract new adherents to this exciting sport. On 12th March, an awards ceremony and gala dinner will round out the experience.  

For more information about the Cup and the Monte-Carlo Polo Federation, click here. 

  

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Photo source: Monte-Carlo Polo Club / Facebook

  

Monaco Age Oncology 2023: Major medical meet heads to Grimaldi Forum

by: Elsa Carpenter
16/02/2023
monaco age oncology

The French-speaking world of geriatric oncology will converge on Monaco from 23rd to 24th March for a major meeting of specialist doctors and caregivers: the ninth edition of Monaco Age Oncology.  

Held every two years, this event is dedicated to the exchange of information on medical advancements and new treatment approaches within the sphere of geriatric oncology.  

“This is a major societal issue since the proportion of seniors is steadily increasing: today those over 65 represent 20.5% of the French population,” say organisers. “60% of people affected by a type of cancer are over 65 years old. The Monaco Age Oncology [event] provides a referential framework in which to share discoveries and mutual experiences, to advance knowledge on the diseases and on the therapies available, for the benefit of this population of patients.” 

In all, some 600 specialists are expected to attend the conference at the Grimaldi Forum. 

For more information, please click here.  

 

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Photo by Monaco Life