Monaco Life brings you the latest community and government news, including a top literary prize linked to Prince Pierre and the renaming of Monaco’s Lycée Technique et Hôtelier in honour of Prince Rainier III.

Théâtre Princesse Grace unveils 2023/24 programme

At the end of June, the Théâtre Princesse Grace revealed a programme featuring more than 30 shows that begins on 26th September with Molière’s Le Misanthrope (also known as the Cantankerous Lover in English). While the vast majority of the performances will be in French, there will be a bilingual English-French one-man show by Paul Taylor on 6th December. In a second nod to the theatre’s foreign language patrons, an Italian production written by Margaret Mazzantini called Zorro: Un eremita sul marciapiede will take place on 13th April next year.

Theatre subscriptions for the 2023/24 season will be available from 10th July. Individual seats can be reserved from 4th September. For more information on the theatre and its upcoming programme, please click here.

*The 2023/24 Théâtre Princesse Grace programme was released in late June. Photo credit: TPG*

Discovery Grant shortlisted entries announced

During an event held at the Médiathèque de Monaco on 29th June, the Literary Council of the Prince Pierre Foundation – the Conseil Littéraire de la Fondation Prince Pierre – presented the works it had selected as in the running for the 2023 Bourse de la Découverte. It is a prize that rewards a first-time-published French-speaking author. The list of novels shortlisted can be found here.

Each of the authors is expected to attend an event at the multi-media library on 9th October ahead of the awards ceremony the following day at the Salle Garnier. Their novels can be found in libraries in Monaco and the surrounding area.

*The list of authors in the running for this year’s Bourse de la Découverte has been announced. Photo credit: Stéphane Danna / Monaco Communications Department*

The Lycée Technique et Hôtelier renamed

Monaco’s vocational and catering school, the Lycée Technique et Hôtelier, has been renamed in honour of Prince Rainier III as part of wider celebrations and commemorations that mark the centenary year of the birth of the late sovereign.

A ceremony that was well-attended by the Monegasque Princely family and government officials was held on 1st July to officially unveil the new name of the establishment – Lycée Rainier III – as well as a bust of the Prince by sculptor Kees Verkade.

The school, which welcomes aspiring young people from the Principality and neighbouring regions in France and Italy, was opened by Prince Albert II in 2013.

*Members of the Princely family and government officials gather in front of the newly renamed Lycée Rainier III. Photo credit: Frédéric Nebinger / Monaco Communications Department*

Monaco’s Child and Family Services department has moved

The Service Petite Enfance et Familles has moved into a new and dedicated space within the Foyer Sainte-Dévote on 3 Rue Philibert Florence. The family-focused department and its team are available in person from 8.30am to 4.30pm on weekdays. The email address and telephone numbers remain the same: +377 93 15 61 80 and spef@mairie.mc.

Diversions due to F(ê)aites de la Danse from Thursday

In light of the weekend-long F(ê)aites de la Danse festival that is set to take over Casino Square for 24 hours from 12pm on Saturday 8th July, there will be some disruptions to road traffic and parking in the central Monte-Carlo district.

All parking and traffic will be prohibited along the Avenue de Monte-Carlo and in Casino Square from Thursday 6th at 8pm until Friday 7th July at 2am. Access will then be reopened until 8pm on the Friday evening, when it will close again until 2am on Saturday 8th July. From 3pm on the Saturday until 9am on the morning of Sunday 9th July, the same restrictions will be imposed on motorists. Those heading in the direction of the Casino from Avenue des Spéluges will be diverted via the Avenue de la Madone and vice versa. Those with a subscription to the Casino car park will be unaffected.

WEATHER CONDITIONS AND WATER LOSS

The weather plays a significant role in determining our water loss. Hot and humid weather can make you sweat like a marathon runner in the desert, as your body tries to cool itself down. Moreover, if you find yourself in a high-altitude environment, you might be surprised to learn that your increased breathing rate can lead to more fluid loss through exhaling water vapour. And let’s not forget about cold environments, where your body works overtime to keep warm, potentially leaving you hypohydrated as your thirst sensation is reduced. Mother Nature sure knows how to keep us on our toes!

PERFORMANCE AND WELL-BEING DETRIMENTS OF HYPOHYDRATION

Let’s get serious for a moment and talk about the impact of hypohydration on your performance and overall well-being. Even mild dehydration, as low as 2% of your body weight, can put a damper on your active endeavour. It can lower your endurance, strength, and coordination faster than a tired toddler gives up on tying their shoelaces. One of the main culprits behind this is the decrease in blood volume, which means less oxygen makes its way to your hard-working muscles, leaving you feeling like you’ve just run a marathon without even leaving the couch. And let’s not forget about the buildup of metabolic waste products that tag along for the dehydrated ride.

If you thought I was done with the detrimental effects of hypohydration, there’s more! Impaired thermoregulation is another side effect. That means you’ll be more prone to overheating, potentially leading to heat exhaustion or even heat stroke. Trust me, you don’t want to experience either of those. And here’s a little bonus: hypohydration can mess with your concentration, alertness, and reaction times. Daily life won’t be a walk in the park if you’re not sipping on that water bottle regularly.

SOME RECOMMENDATIONS

Now we’ll talk about practical solutions. To optimize your hydration, it is crucial to adopt a proactive approach. Here are some recommendations for staying hydrated and performing at your best.

Daily Hydration: Aim to consume an adequate amount of fluids throughout the day, even when you’re not exercising. The general guideline is to drink at least 1.5-2 L of water per day but remember, you’re a unique individual, so your needs may be different.

Pre-Exercise Hydration: Before engaging in physical activity, ensure you are adequately hydrated. Sip on approximately 500-600 mL of water or a sports drink 2-3 hours before you get going and an additional 250-300 mL 15-30 minutes before you start.

During Exercise Hydration: When you’re in the zone, sweating up a storm, aim to drink fluids regularly to replace some of the water lost. The general recommendation is to consume 100-250 mL of fluid every 15-20 minutes, depending on the intensity and duration of the activity, as well as the weather. For those longer or more intense workouts, sports drinks with electrolytes can be your trusty sidekick. They’ll give you a boost of carbohydrates to keep your energy levels up and replace those precious minerals lost through sweat.

Post-Exercise Hydration: You’ve conquered your workout, but your hydration journey isn’t over yet. It’s time to replenish those fluid and electrolyte losses. Aim to consume 1-1.5 L of fluid for every kilo of body weight lost during exercise. And here’s a pro tip: include sodium-containing foods or beverages to help restore that precious electrolyte balance.

IT’S NOW TIME TO APPLY ALL THE ADVICE IN YOUR DAILY ROUTINE

I hope that you now understand that proper hydration is vital for maintaining optimal performance and well-being in both daily life and sports settings, especially during the summer season. Understanding how water loss occurs, the impact of weather conditions, and the performance detriments of dehydration allows us to develop effective hydration strategies. And remember, if you want personalized advice and guidance, don’t hesitate to consult a nutritionist or dietician.

Tristan Boetti is a sports nutritionist. Through his company Performance & Bien-Être Monaco, he works with professional athletes as well as recreationally active individuals to help them achieve their goals through customised nutrition plans and expert advice.

Day: 4 July 2023