Sportel Awards: Peace and overcoming adversity central to awards

24/10/2023

From a touching tribute to the late Sir Bobby Charlton to praise for promising future stars, the 2023 Sportel Awards were a night to remember for the sporting personalities and top athletes who walked the emerald green carpet of the Grimaldi Forum Monday night.

Key figures from the sporting world converged on the Grimaldi Forum on Monday 23rd October to celebrate the excellence and achievements of the past year.

Sporting legends and rising stars alike graced the Prince Pierre Auditorium alongside members of Monaco’s ruling Grimaldi family, with the likes of Pierre Casiraghi and Louis Ducruet, accompanied by his wife Marie, among the distinguished guests.

The main focus of the ceremony, brilliantly hosted by French rugby icon Marc Maury, was to unveil the 2023 laureates, but a touching tribute was given to Sir Bobby Charlton, the legendary English football player who had passed just days before, adding a deeply emotional note to the event.

2023 winners

A panel of experts, led by Mélina Robert Michon, the vice-world champion and French discus record holder, was entrusted with the task of selecting the deserving champions.

The Documentary Prize was awarded to ‘Villeneuve Pironi’, a film that unravels the intricate story of the former Formula 1 Ferrari teammates, Gilles Villeneuve and Didier Pironi. Torquil Jones, the documentary’s director and producer, took the stage to accept the honour, underlining the fundamental role of trust in the art of storytelling.

“The families placed their faith in us to narrate their tale, and trust serves as the foundation of meaningful storytelling,” he told a captivated audience.

The Peace and Sport Documentary Prize went to ‘Rise: The Siya Kolisi Story’, a profoundly personal portrayal of Siya Kolisi, the first black rugby captain for the Springboks. This documentary delves into the challenges confronted by the black South African community, particularly enduring inequality and racism, and highlights how unity prevails in moments of adversity.

Upon accepting the award, the film’s director, Tebogo Malope, aptly remarked, “There has never been a more timely moment to advocate for peace than the present.”

The Jury Special Prize went to the documentary ‘One-Armed Wonder: The Extraordinary Story of Jimmy Hasty’, an emotional story about an amputee footballer who put the Irish Dundalk football club on the map.

Legend Award goes to Katarina Witt

The culmination of the evening came with the presentation of the Legend Award to Katarina Witt, a two-time figure skating world champion. Pierre Casiraghi, representing Prince Albert II at the event, personally handed Witt her award, which sees her join a prestigious list of Sportel “Legends” that includes the likes of Didier Deschamps and Alain Prost.

“Through the most outstanding sporting images of the year that have been rewarded this evening, we are honouring all the champions of all disciplines, and that is the soul of our event,” said Loris Menoni, Executive Director of the Sportel Awards. “All these top sportsmen and women inspire admiration for their rigour and courage. It’s important to give them the recognition they deserve.”

Click here for the full list of winners.

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Photo by Monaco Life

Mairie’s Halloween Party so popular it extends age group

by: Cassandra Tanti

24/10/2023

With a week to go until Halloween, the Mairie de Monaco has announced that it has widened the age group for its popular Halloween Party at Espace Léo Ferré due to demand.

The Halloween Party has become a highlight on Monaco’s social calendar for teens. Held on 31^st October between 7pm and 11pm, the event has traditionally been reserved for Monaco’s students and residents aged between 14 and 17.

Now, “in view of numerous requests and in order to satisfy a greater number of children and adolescents”, the Mairie de Monaco has decided to widen the age range to between 11 and 17.

Ticket pre-sales are available Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm at the Espace Léo Ferré, or on site the evening of the event, depending on available places.

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Halloween in Monaco round-up: a journey from spooky adventures to adult thrills

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Photo credit: Szabó János, Unsplash

Film: ‘The Performance’ to have its world premiere at Roma Cinema Fest

by: Cassandra Tanti

24/10/2023

‘The Performance’, a film adaptation of the short story from legendary playwright Arthur Miller’s final work, starring Jeremy Piven and Robert Carlyle, will make its World Premiere at the Roma Cinema Fest.

Emmy and Golden Globe winner Jeremy Piven (Entourage) and BAFTA Award winner Robert Carlyle (Trainspotting, The Full Monty) star with an ensemble cast of trained tap dancers including Maimie McCoy (The Musketeers), Adam Garcia (Coyote Ugly), Lara Wolf (Quantico), Tony nominated Jared Grimes (Swing Kids), Yaniv Biton (The Monkey House), and newcomer Isaac Gryn in this film produced by Sparks Go and Daniel Finkelman Films.

‘The Performance’ follows the journey of Harold May (Piven), a gifted tap dancer and second-generation Jewish American immigrant whose career has been relegated to the New York club scene. While on tour in Europe, Harold and the rest of his troupe are scouted by a German attaché (Carlyle), who offers the dancers an irresistible sum of money for a single performance.

Little do they know the show is for Adolf Hitler.

A film the resonates to this day

Shira Piven (Welcome to Me, Fully Loaded) directs Miller’s story, which first appeared in The New Yorker.

“It was an honour to inhabit Harold May,” said Jeremy Piven. “I’ve been trying to make this film for 12 years and to be in Italy where some of the masters of film originated for its world premiere is extremely exciting. Tragically, this movie is incredibly relevant right now. But this is how I can contribute to the conversation; through storytelling and doing what I do. It is going to lead to a lot of conversations I can’t wait to have.”

Shira Piven and Joshua Salzberg adapted the short story for the screen, which was primarily filmed in Bratislava, Slovakia.

“The relevance of this film has resonated with me,” said Daniel Finkelman, who produced the film alongside Chaya Amor. “As the movie explores the risks and rewards of assimilation, Harold faces a choice: conceal his true identity in order to realise his dreams, or give up on the career he’s been pursuing his entire life.”

“Our film begs the audience to examine “the pursuit of happiness at all costs”, while also showcasing how easily history can repeat itself if left forgotten,” added producer Jenny Shakeshaft.

‘The Performance’ will make its world premier at the Roma Cinema Fest on Saturday 28th October.

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Where to find Les Enfants de Frankie’s Red Nose Day drive in Monaco

by: Elsa Carpenter

24/10/2023

Organised by the homegrown charity Les Enfants de Frankie, Monaco’s take on Red Nose Day is back in December. Here’s how you can get involved and support the Journée Monégasque des Nez Rouges.

The very first Red Nose Day was held back in 1988 in the UK. The inaugural edition of the charity drive was televised across the nation and raised a respectable £15 million.

The concept was brought to the Principality nearly 20 years ago by Francien Giraudi, the founder of Les Enfants de Frankie and a British expat who had moved to Monaco with her family some year earlier.

For 17 years, the association, which has helped make the dreams of thousands of sick, disabled and vulnerable children living in the Principality and across southern France come true through its philanthropic events and funded experiences, embraced the classic red nose, but in 2022 decided to make a switch to a reusable shopping bag in the name of sustainability.

The big day, under the high patronage of Prince Albert II of Monaco, will be taking place on Wednesday 6th December – a date chosen specifically as it falls on the Day of Saint Nicholas, the patron saint of children – but the bags will be on sale from Thursday 26th October at a number of sites across Monaco: all post offices, Carrefour hypermarket checkouts, certain pharmacies and partner locales.

On Wednesday 25th October and the main event day, the bags will also be sold at the Galerie Marchande in Fontvieille. The Gare SNCF de Monte-Carlo, Monaco’s central train station, will be joining in with sales on Wednesday 6th December.

The bags cost a token €2.50 each and all proceeds will go towards supporting the efforts of Les Enfants de Frankie.

Click here to find out more.

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Photo supplied by Les Enfants de Frankie

Opéra de Monte-Carlo season opener invites Daniel Barenboim to conduct Verdi’s Requiem

by: Stephanie Horsman

24/10/2023

The Opéra de Monte-Carlo, headed up by the indomitable Cecilia Bartoli, is kicking off the season with a bold choice conducted by the legendary Daniel Barenboim: Giuseppe Verdi’s Requiem.

Cecilia Bartoli’s second season as Artistic Director of the Opéra de Monte-Carlo begins on 2nd November with a choral concert performing the Verdi classic, Messa da Requiem.

VERDI’S TRIBUTE

This monumental work was originally created in tribute to writer and poet Alessandro Manzoni, who died in 1873. It was designed as a piece for four soloists, a double choir and a full orchestra as a funeral mass piece, but at the time of its conception it was considered too “operatic” to be performed in a church.

Not deterred, Verdi first played Requiem at Milan’s San Marco Church on the first anniversary of Manzoni’s death on 22nd May 1874. The composer conducted himself. Three nights later, he debuted the work at La Scala, where it was an instant success.

NOW IN MONACO

The Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte-Carlo (OPMC) will host this exceptional evening at the Grimaldi Forum, with Daniel Barenboim conducting and and Choirmaster Stefano Visconti at the helm.

Soprano Marina Rebeka, mezzosoprano Ekaterina Semenchuk, tenor Michael Spyres and bass Ildar Abdrazakov will take on the roles of the four soloists, and this illustrious quartet will be supported by the Monte-Carlo Opera Chorus and the OPMC.

The show is set to be 90 minutes of sheer beauty; a wondrous way to lead into what will be a magnificent 2023/24 season. For tickets and more information, click here.

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Photo credit: Harald Hoffmann

All about the Pelagos escape game and poster for kids

by: Stephanie Horsman

24/10/2023

Two new fun and educational tools, an escape game and a poster to pin on bedroom walls, are encouraging the next generation to get involved with the Pelagos Sanctuary thanks to funds provided by the Rotary Club of Monaco.

More than 20 years ago now, the Principality of Monaco, Italy and France came together to sign the landmark Pelagos Agreement and formally protect eight key species of marine mammals in their shared corner of the Mediterranean. It is a unique cross-border agreement that is the sole international organisation dedicated to the preservation and safeguarding of sea creatures in the region, and runs numerous scientific projects and programmes year-round.

Now it is reaching out to the next generation of conservationists with new educational online resources available via the recently revamped Pelagos Sanctuary website.

“These two complementary tools have been designed to offer an educational experience that allows young people to learn, through playful activities, about the marine mammals populating the Sanctuary, their characteristics, evolution and the threats they face,” says a spokesperson for the Pelagos Sanctuary.

The escape game provides “an emotionally rich experience, encouraging young people to become ambassadors for the protection of marine mammals within the Pelagos Sanctuary”, and players must help a character called Sebastian solve puzzles and uncover clues in an attempt to complete a scientific mission.

According to the creators, it “combines elements of problem-solving, critical thinking, and immersive storytelling to create an engaging and interactive experience”.

The poster, which is available in English, French, Italian and Monegasque, features images and information on the marine mammals protected by the zone, such as the critically endangered Mediterranean monk seal, the sperm whale and the bottlenose dolphin. It can be downloaded and printed out at home, and will also be distributed to schools within the Sanctuary area on request.

MADE POSSIBLE BY THE ROTARY CLUB OF MONACO

The conception of the escape game and the poster was made possible thanks to the contributions of the Rotary Club of Monaco, which has been a supporter of the Pelagos Sanctuary for many, many years.

“The Rotary Club of Monaco has provided essential support to make this initiative possible,” says a spokesperson for the Pelagos Sanctuary. “Thanks to these new tools, the younger audience becomes a protagonist in the protection of marine mammals, reinforcing the idea of a Sanctuary which belongs to everybody and for everybody.”

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Photos and images via Pelagos-Sanctuary.org

Day: 24 October 2023