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Month: June 2023

Government action: Monaco news round-up 

by: Stephanie Horsman
12/06/2023

Last week in Monaco, the fire brigade received a special visitor, scholarship applications opened online and a warning was put out about the return of disease-carrying tiger mosquitoes.  

SPECIAL VISITOR TO FIRE BRIGADE 

Colonel Philippe Bertran de Balanda, the Chief of Corps of the Civil Security Instruction and Intervention Unit No. 7 (UIISC 7), which based in Brignoles, made an official visit to the Principality and the Monaco Fire Brigade in the Condamine neighbourhood on 2nd June.  

Monaco’s Lieutenant-Colonel Maxime Yvrard was on hand to welcome Bertran de Balanda for a day of meetings, equipment and vehicle inspections and operational events, as well as the viewing of the changing of the guard ceremony at the Prince’s Palace. 

The Monaco Fire Brigade and UIISC 7 have a partnership based on professional training exchanges. The French unit also participates as additional help during the Monaco Grand Prix.  

SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS ONLINE  

The Department of National Education, Youth and Sports has announced that applications for scholarship and social advancement grants for the 2023-2024 academic year are now available online via the monguichet.mc portal.  

Launched last year, the uptake by applicants has been huge, with 95% opting for this version over paper. 

Eligibility information and applications for scholarships can be found here while grant information can be found here. 

Applications must be submitted before 2pm on the last Friday of September for scholarships and before a training start date for the grants.  

RETURN OF TIGER MOSQUITOES 

The Department of Health Action has issued a warning regarding the return of tiger mosquitoes, which can carry viral diseases such as chikungunya, dengue fever and zika, to the Principality. 

To lessen risks to the public, Monaco will spray a chemical repellent in public spaces and construction sites. The government is also encouraging to the public to take precautions, such as using repellents on skin, installing mosquito nets over beds and near windows, and using suitable anti-mosquito coils or diffusers at home. The government has also asked the public to alert health authorities if any signs of disease crop up.  

Chikungunya and dengue fever present with the sudden onset of fever above 38.5°C and at least one of the following symptoms: headache, joint pain, muscle pain, low back pain or pain behind the eyes. For zika, look out for a rash, with or without fever, and at least two of the following symptoms: red eyes, joint pain and muscle pain. 

The tiny insect is less than a centimetre in length and can be recognised by the black and white stripes on its body and legs.  

 

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A celebration of the sea at the Monaco Yacht Club’s Fête de la Mer 

by: Elsa Carpenter
12/06/2023
Fête de la Mer monaco

This coming weekend, the Yacht Club de Monaco is celebrating the sea and the patron saint of fishermen, Saint Peter, with its annual Fête de la Mer.  

On Saturday 17th June, the Yacht Club de Monaco (YCM) will hold an all-day party in honour of the sea with a programme filled to the brim with fun and activities.  

BOAT PARADE 

It all begins at 8.45am, when the owners of boats of all shapes and sizes meet in Port Hercule and the port in Fontvieille to pick up accessories to deck out their vessels. They will then all head to the waters off the Oceanographic Museum just after, where the boats will form a parade line that, after a blessing, will sail towards the YCM for 11.15am, where the sailors will disembark for group photos and speeches.  

LANDLUBBERS 

For those not taking part in the parade, the fun starts at 10am with a series of activities and workshops at the YCM. During a midday lunch break, there will be a pirate show, followed by more activities and contests.  

Included in the day will be a long list of water-related sports and events, such as paddleboard races, inflatable slides, water-based climbing structures, e-surfboard and e-foil demonstrations and chances to try them out, kayaking, jet skiing, a tattoo workshop, a treasure hunt, a drawing competition and loads more.   

For the full programme and more information, as well as to register to be part of the parade, please click here. 

 

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 credit: YCM 

Padel: Argentine duo Alex Chozas and Léo Augsburger win CMB Monaco Master tournament

by: Luke Entwistle
12/06/2023
Chozas and Augsburger win the CMB Monaco Masters

The youthful Argentinian duo of Alex Chozas and Léo Augsburger won the CMB Monaco Master Padel tournament, held at the Monte-Carlo Casino, on Sunday.

After almost a week of intense competition in the Principality, the CMB Monaco Master, part of the A1 Padel circuit came to an end in dramatic style. The competition, which in line with its rapid growth in France, joined forces with the New Y0rk Yankees earlier this year, was held at the Monte-Carlo Casino, and welcomed the biggest names in the sport.

“I’m lost for words”

However, it was a pair of newcomers that won their first ever A1 Padel title. 18-year-old Augsurger and 20-year-old Chozas made a sloppy, lethargic start to Sunday’s final against Diego Ramos and Agustin Torre, buy came roaring back in the second-set.

The third, and deciding set went to the wire, but repeated errors from Ramos and Torre allowed Augsburger and Chozas (1-6, 6-2, 7-6) to take the victory after a nail-biting tie-break (7-4).

“I’m lost for words,” began Chozas. “We’re very happy. It’s what we came here hoping to achieve. We played a great championship and today we can say we are the champions,” he continued. In front of Prince Albert II, who had a front-row seat as the drama unfolded on Sunday, Padel marked its growth as a sport with another spectacle in the Principality.

 

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Photo source: A1 Padel 

Inaugural E1 Championship coming to Monaco

by: Luke Entwistle
11/06/2023
E1 boat in Venice

Monaco will host an E1 Championship race during the inaugural season of the electric powerboat racing series in 2024, whilst the identities of three other host cities have been revealed. 

The world’s first – and only – all-electric race boat championship will finally get underway in 2024. The first race will take place in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, although the exact date is yet to be announced. There will then be a further race in the Middle East in February, although the location is yet to be revealed.

The flotilla will then head to Europe with two races in Venice in April and May before another, as yet unconfirmed race in Europe. It will then be Monaco’s turn to host a race in the Principality’s harbour in July, before the seventh and final race of the season in Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

What is the format of the race?

In E1’s announcement, more light was also shed on the logistics of the races themselves. The races themselves will take place close to the shore, allowing spectators in attendance a good view of the action. Each event will take place over two days with practice sessions, qualifying and knockout races. Pilots will go head-to-head in a number of heats to determine who progresses to the next stage. The fastest will advance to the final.

Big-name involvements

Some big names will be involved in the championship. Rafael Nadal announced that he will be entering a team into the E1 Championship back in January. Red Bull’s Sergio Perez has entered into the championship as ‘Team Mexico,’ whilst legendary former Chelsea forward Didier Drogba has also entered a team. Currently, Venice Racing Team is the only other confirmed participant, but more will be confirmed in due course. Up to 10 teams and 20 pilots could ultimately be involved in the inaugural season.

Rafael Nadal – Photo source: E1 Championship

“It’s a fantastic day for the UIM E1 Championship as we confirm our first-ever racing calendar. We are keeping the door open to new venues for the calendar and expect to confirm them very soon. It’s an exciting time for the championship,” said Rodi Baddo, co-founder and CEO of E1.

After years of preparation, the E1 championship is finally taking shape and the much-anticipated inaugural season is now just six months away.

 

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Photo source: E1 Series/ Lloyd Images

Basketball: Monaco begin Betclic Elite final with resounding win

by: Luke Entwistle
11/06/2023
AS Monaco Basket's Alpha Diallo v Boulogne-Levallois

AS Monaco Basketball began their Betclic Elite final series with a resounding victory over Boulogne-Levallois (87-64) on Saturday. 

All eyes were on Victory Wembanyama, the NBA’s number one draft prospect, who is destined to join the San Antonio Spurs later this month. However, in the face of the individual threat posed by the French prospect, it was an incredible collective performance from the Roca Team that not only silenced Boulogne-Levallois’ talisman but also allowed Monaco to notch their first victory of the series with ease.

Monaco are yet to lose during this year’s playoffs (2-0 versus Strasbourg, 3-0 versus Bourg-en-Bresse), and at no point on the night did they look like losing that record inside a packed Salle Gaston Médecin.

John Brown III was the neutralising force, limiting Wembanyama to a mere eight points, but their dominance wasn’t simply man-to-man, Boulogne-Levallois were dominated all over the court, especially in the second quarter, which put pay to any chances of an away victory.

A lead stretched to 34 points

Monaco’s top-scorer, Alpha Diallo, only scored 14 points, but he was backed up by the entire team, notably by the usual suspects’ Mike James (12 points, eight assists) and Elie Okobo (10 points).

The Roca Team’s foot was firmly on the accelerator from tip-off, and by half-time, Boulogne-Levalloise trailed by a mammoth 32 points (52-21), largely thanks to a second-quarter capitulation (29-6). It was not so long ago that Monaco were on the receiving end of such a collapse against Olympiacos.

Midway through the third quarter, Monaco’s lead reach an incredible 34 points, and there was no way back into the game for Boulogne, despite a late rally to add an air of respectability to the scoreline (87-64).

“We approached this game with the right attitude,” began Sasa Obradovic. “Tactically, we were good, firstly in stopping Wembanyama and then by limiting the players around him. We mustn’t rest, however. I’m expecting a reaction from them. We mustn’t give them a chance,” added the Serbian coach.

Monaco are two win away from the Betclic Elite title, and they can go one step closer to their objective on Monday night at the Salle Gaston Médecin.

 

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Photo credit: Direction de la Communication / Stephane Danna

France plans for a summer of heat waves 

by: Elsa Carpenter
10/06/2023

More than 1,500 heat records were broken in French towns and cities last year, with 10 months out of 12 proving warmer than previous averages. It’s a pattern that looks set to continue. 

Heat waves are becoming a normal part of the summer landscape. Back in 1989, France would record a heat wave every five years or so, but since 2000, they have become a yearly occurrence. In 2022, the French mainland registered its earliest heat wave on record, when the mercury spiked right across the country in June.  

In order to protect and prepare the population, the French government has decided to enact a national action plan on heat waves, which was launched on 8th June by Minister for Ecological Transition Christophe Béchu.   

LIMITING IMPACT  

A heat wave is defined as a period of excessively hot weather; a phenomenon that France anticipates will double in number in the next 30 years.  

As these episodes of high heat are dangerous to people and the environment, the French government has implemented a new plan to anticipate heat waves and to supplement the health system at times of need. 

Météo France will play a part in organising the warning system, and the government will focus its efforts on four main points: how to limit the effects of a heat wave on the daily life of citizens, how to ensure the continuation of essential public services, how to ensure economic continuity, and how to protect the natural environment and resources.  

The wider action plans includes 27 points, from behaviours to implement in the home to reduce the threats related to heat waves to dynamic communication strategies for tourists and French residents.  

Groups such as the elderly, the vulnerable and children have received specific attention. For example, guardians of vulnerable people are being reminding to register the person with the municipality to ensure their care if the guardian is unable to reach them. Under the plan, schools and crèches will be equipped with sufficient air-cooling equipment, such as fans.  

Businesses also have their own set of criteria, and may be subject to workplace inspections in order to ensure workers are subject to fair and healthy conditions.

The complete list of all points can be found here.

PREVENTION 

The government also stressed the need to be sensible during hot days, encouraging the public to take all the usual precautions such as staying hydrated, keeping out of the sun in the hottest parts of the day and wearing loose fitting, light-coloured clothing seriously.  

 

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Photo source: Candy Guru on Pixabay