Basketball: Monaco are the Champions of France

16/06/2023

AS Monaco Basket celebrating winning the French Championship

AS Monaco Basketball are the champions of France! The Roca Team clinched their third victory (85-92) against Boulogne-Levallois at Roland Garros on Thursday to secure their first-ever French title.

Amidst the Roca Team’s meteoric rise, there has been a fair share of heartbreak. Zvezdan Mitrovic’s Monaco missed out in a five-game thriller against Le Mans back in 2018, and then one year later, the same fate befell the Principality side. This time is it was Sasa Obradovic who took the team to the final, who were beaten by Asvel, incidentally managed by former manager Mitrovic.

Last season, Monaco failed once again to get their hands on the trophy, narrowly losing to Asvel – Elie Okobo, now a stalwart of the Roca Team grabbed the title from Monaco’s grasp on that occasion.

However, they weren’t to be denied on the fourth time of asking, securing a 3-0 series win over the Parisian side, meaning that Monaco finish the post-season unbeaten, having also remained unbeaten against Bourg-en-Bresse and Strasbourg.

“The greatest season of my life.”

The final game emulated the second in the series more than the first. The Roca Team trailed for much of the match with NBA-bound Victor Wembanyama (22 points) enjoying his best performance of this final series.

However, Monaco rallied late on, relying on the incredible efficiency of Jaron Blossomgame (22 points), especially outside the key, to bring the away side to within touching distance.

With under five minutes left on the clock, Okobo (16 points) then gave Monaco a slender lead (82-81). However, it was Jordan Loyd (22 points) who delivered the final blows with two monstrous, clutch three-pointers, the final one from the deep, to knock the wind out of Boulogne-Levallois.

The American, who has expressed a desire to remain at Monaco for the remained of his career, has become a favourite of Sasa Obradovic, and it was fitting that he would win Monaco their first French title.

*Photo of Sasa Obradovic and the Roca Team by AS Monaco Basket*

“Being champions is a mad feeling! We have had a great season with the third-place finish in the Euroleague Final Four, the French Cup, and know the title. It’s the best season of my life. Jordan was incredible at the end of the match. I knew he wouldn’t disappoint me,” said Obradovic.

Monaco in the top 30 teams in the world, according to Wembanyama

Monaco have been in a league of their own all season, both in the regular and post-season. Wembanyama will likely be happy not to have to face them again next season, but the French prospect, the top draft in the NBA, had some parting compliments for the Roca Team.

“It was an honour to have been able to play Monaco, who are surely in the top 30 clubs in the world,” said Wembanyama. After this season, undoubtedly the best in the club’s history, Monaco now have the job of consolidating their position as the kings of French basketball.

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Photo source: AS Monaco Basket

Women of Monaco Lunch raises funds for Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation

by: Cassandra Tanti

16/06/2023

The Women of Monaco Lunch has once again brought together a group of like-minded local women to support and celebrate each other and raise money for a good cause, this time the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation.

The continuous theme of Women of Monaco Lunches is “Women supporting Women”. On Tuesday 13th June, the sixth edition the lunch, organised by Sandrine Knoell of Five Stars Events, was backed by Akris, a Swiss-based fashion house with a boutique in Monaco, and Barclays Private Bank.

Guests gathered at the Hôtel Hermitage around tables bearing the name of collections from the Akris fashion house, and were treated to a special fashion show celebrating 100 years of the brand.

For this anniversary collection, creative director Albert Kriemler drew inspiration from archive pieces dated between 1978 and 1992. Fashion house representatives talked about how Akris, founded in St. Gallen Switzerland – the fabric capital of the world – by Alice Kriemler-Schoch, has always been a champion of women’s rights.

*Fashion show by Akris celebrating 100 years*

The fashion show transitioned from classic double-faced coats and oversized 80s jackets to rainbow-coloured pleated dresses and a selection from the lace collection that originates from Kriemler’s designs of the 1980s.

“While searching for new laces, we realised the original laces had a strength that we could not find in any of today’s replacements,” said Kriemler. “That which is just right cannot be surpassed; it took six months for the initial lace maker in Calais to reproduce it.”

The auction of a beautiful Akris Heart print handbag contributed significantly to the €6,000 raised during the lunch for the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation.

Meanwhile, Valérie Genin, Head of Investments at Barclays Private Bank in Monaco, spoke about women in finance at Barclays and how the company has been at the forefront of championing women’s careers and engaging men in the conversation. She highlighted that Barclays was the first bank in the UK to hire a female bank manager in the 1950s, and it was the first bank to sign up to the UN’s HeForShe campaign in 2015, which aims to accelerate progress towards gender equality.

Valérie Genin also highlighted the changes that are happening in female-driven private finance.

“Within our private banking business, we are seeing a very visible trend of women not only being part of decision making, but also leading investment decisions on behalf of families and organisations. This has been accentuated more recently. So, not only are women now the largest beneficiaries of the inter-generational wealth transfer, they are increasingly becoming private banking clients in their own rights through their own hard work and successes,” said Genin.

*Left to right: Vittoria Dalmasso, Store Manager of Xerjoff Monaco, and Umberto Rissone, Director at Xerjoff Monaco, with event organiser Sandrine Knoell*

Guests were also treated to a selection of fragrances by Italian luxury perfumer Xerjoff, whose fragrances are characterised by a rare blend of Italian style, tradition and innovation. The Women of Monaco Lunch now falls under the banner of the Women of Monaco Club, created by Sandrine Knoell and launched in March 2023. This elite international social club aims to bring together extraordinary women from different backgrounds who share the same ideas.

“Since 8th March, we have had 25 members join who are all special women,” said Sandrine Knoell. “We meet a potential member before accepting her to see if she matches the values that we have of ‘Women supporting Women’ and also their integrity. The members benefit from a range of different experiences and invitations, for example, we had a concert for the Printemps des Arts in the Hauser and Wirth gallery, we participated in the 160th anniversary of the Consulate of Monaco in Florence with an amazing Gala at the Palazzio Vecchio, and a gemstones talk at Boghossian in the Hôtel de Paris. Upcoming events include the Gala of the Princess Grace Academy, Monaco Art Wek and artmonte-carlo.”

Those who are interested in joining the Women of Monaco Club can contact Five Stars Events.

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Photos source: 5 Stars Events.

N&J managing director to attempt 80-hour rowing marathon

by: Cassandra Tanti

16/06/2023

Patrick Coote, Northrop and Johnson Managing Director of Europe, may be more familiar with superyachts than rowing boats, but next month he’ll be setting off from Port Vell on the Spanish mainland in an attempt to row non-stop to the island of Ibiza in the Balearics as part of an extreme endurance race.

The feat is expected to take around 80 hours, depending on the wind and weather.

After completing a 12-day, 650km row around Scotland in 2022, this race of a mere 330km may seem like a walk in the park in comparison; until you factor in the high temperatures of the blistering Mediterranean sun as well as the rashes, sea-sickness, aches and pains, all compounded by extreme exhaustion and severe sleep deprivation.

Believe it or not, it’s all for a good cause. Coote will be part of a four-man team raising awareness, and seeking donations, to help fund the education and advocacy programs of the NOMAN charity, which aims to eliminate the devastation caused by HPV, the agent of 5% of cancers.

The 24′ (7.3m) ocean rowing boat has been designed to self-right if they capsize and withstand the worst weather the open sea can throw at them. The boat has a water-tight cabin, solar panels to power the onboard navigation system, and a water-maker to convert seawater into drinking water.

“The pain and discomfort aboard will be in stark contrast to life on the superyachts we normally work with, but it will all be worthwhile if we can complete the challenge and raise money to help prevent future suffering by cancer patients,” said Coote. “We’re extremely grateful to Northrop and Johnson, IGY Port Ibiza and Port Vell for their support.”

You can support Patrick Coote and the team in their endeavours by clicking on this link to make a donation to NOMAN:
www.justgiving.com/fundraising/patrick-coote-2023

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By Monaco Life with Press Release. Photo provided.

Monaco’s open-air cinema has launched its summer season

by: Elsa Carpenter

16/06/2023

Expect big hitters and box office smashes at this summer’s open-air cinema on the Rock of Monaco. Here’s everything you need to know.

Throughout June and July, the roof of Monaco’s Parking des Pêcheurs is transformed into an al fresco cinema with comfortable seating for 500 people facing a brand-new 200sqm screen. Some of the biggest movies of the year – some that are yet to be released – are featuring on this summer’s incredible line-up, and all will be shown in their original language with French subtitles.

What’s on the programme?

Transformers: Rise of the Beasts will be shown on 16th, 19th and 22nd June as well as 4th and 9th July.

Fast & Furious X is set to be screened on 17th and 30th June.

About My Father will be shown on 18th June and 5th July.

The Flash has five screenings planned: 20th, 23rd and 27th June, and 3rd and 10th July.

No Hard Feelings will be shown on 21st and 26th June, and 1st, 6th and 14th July.

Spiderman: Across the Spider-Verse is going up on 24th June and 8th July.

Love Again will be screened on 25th and 29th June, and 18th July.

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny will be shown on 28th June, then 2nd, 7th, 11th and 16th July.

Renfield is up on 13th, 17th and 21st July.

Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part I will be screened on 12th, 15th and 20th July.

Oppenheimer will be shown on 19th July.

Barbie gets its Monaco premiere on 22nd July.

The movies all start at 8.45pm and tickets cost €11.50 for adults and €9 for students. No reservations are required, although get there in plenty of time if you want the best seats in the house!

Click here for more information.

Do you have an event in Monaco or the French Riviera that you would like us to include in our What’s On section and events calendar? Please email editor@monacolife.net.

Photo source: The Monaco Open Air Cinema / Facebook

2023’s Oceano pour Tous competition winners announced

by: Stephanie Horsman

16/06/2023

Students from all over the world were tasked with imagining innovative projects to help protect the seas for the Oceano pour Tous competition, and now the winners have been announced.

Since 2014, Oceano pour Tous has been a catalyst for change via its competition that inspires students to look at the sea as a precious resource to be protected and to come up with projects designed to do just that.

The event, put on by the Oceanographic Institute of Monaco, along with the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation, French National Education and the Department of National Education, Youth and Sports of Monaco, is more than just awareness-raising… It is a call to action.

The 2023 edition saw over 600 students participating, and whilst all were excellent entries, there were seven who were heads and shoulders above the rest.

Local winners

In the “France and Monaco: Less than 1,100 km from the Museum” category, the Middle School Prize went to 5th, 4th, and 3rd graders from Collège Pierre Puget in Toulon. The Coup de Coeur prize from the Association of Friends of the Oceanographic Museum (AAMOM) went to Nice’s Collège Catherine Ségurane’s 6th, 5th, 4th and 3rd year student collaboration.

Classes from both schools were in attendance at the prize-giving ceremony.

The “Pilot Class” category was won by a CM1 class from Aubanel School in Fréjus.

International awards

For the “France: Greater than 1,100 km from the Museum” category, it was 6th grade students from the Collège Quartier Français Lucet Langenier of La Réunion who nabbed the Middle School Prize, whilst the Coup de Coeur award for this group went to another 6th grade class in the La Réunion’s Chemin Morin College.

In the “International” category, 5th graders from Istituto Comprensivo Statale 82° C. D. – S.M. D’Acquisto in Naples, Italy, received the Middle School Prize, and the Istituto Comprensivo Statale Ferdinand Russo 6th graders, also from Naples, took home the Coup de Coeur prize.

Throughout their projects, all of the students participating were supported in their endeavours by an educational team specialised in scientific and cultural mediation, who held virtual workshops on marine themes to help the students along on their journey.

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Photo credit: Oceanographic Institute of Monaco / Philippe Fitte

Day: 16 June 2023