Sports round-up: Roca Team’s highs and lows, AS Monaco suffer Toulouse setback

19/02/2024

In a week of mixed fortunes for Monaco’s mainstream sports teams, the Roca Team clinched a notable victory against ASVEL but stumbled against Paris, while the AS Monaco football team suffered a defeat to Toulouse FC in the Stade Louis II.

The week began for AS Monaco Basket on Tuesday 13th February with a match-up against ASVEL in the Coupe de France. Played at the Salle Gaston Médecin, it was a strong game at each end of the court, but Monaco ultimately came out victorious with a 92-82 win.

This victory, the team’s ninth consecutive win against ASVEL, advances the Roca Team into the competition’s Top 8. Coach Sasa Obradovic remarked on the Monegasque side’s success, saying, “We played one of our best games.”

The momentum carried on into the Leaders Cup quarter-finals against Le Mans on Friday 16th February at the Stade Marie-Marvingt, where the Rouges et Blancs clinched an 81-94 victory.

Mam Jaiteh, who made a significant return to the team during the game, reflected on AS Monaco Basket’s powerful collective mindset: “Right from the start, everyone was all in… We knew we had to show a different face.”

The Roca Team’s winning streak came to a sorrowful end, however, the next night in Paris at the LNB Pro A Leaders Cup semi-final where the Monegasques succumbed 98-93.

After a well-earned break, the side will next play an away Leaders Cup game against Nanterre on Wednesday 28th February.

*Despite the home turf advantage, AS Monaco failed to get a second goal passed the Toulouse FC keeper and lost 1-2. Photo credit: AS Monaco*

AS Monaco also ended the week on a low, after a Ligue 1 match against Toulouse FC on Sunday 18th February ended with defeat. Despite their home advantage in the Stade Louis II and with a recent win against local rivals OGC Nice under their belts, the Rouges et Blancs were caught off guard by Toulouse: 1-2.

Still, AS Monaco coach Adi Hütter seemed optimistic about the team’s potential for a strong comeback post-game as he emphasised the need for focused training and resilience.

“Our defence against set pieces will be a key focus in training this week. We have the talent and the spirit to turn things around,” he told the gathered press.

Looking ahead, AS Monaco’s resolve will be tested again as they aim to recover from this setback and prepare for the next challenge against RC Lens on Sunday 25th February in Northern France.

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Main photo credit: AS Monaco Basket

Monaco’s Red Cross raised €2.5 million for international humanitarian and relief efforts in 2023

by: Stephanie Horsman

19/02/2024

For three-quarters of a century, the Monegasque Red Cross has followed the precepts of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement to promote the seven principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, volunteerism, unity and universality.

The Monegasque branch was founded in 1948 under Prince Louis II and has grown in strength and numbers over the years, but has never wavered from these core, original values.

Now under the direction of Prince Albert II, who took over after the death of his mother, Princess Grace, in 1982, the charity has continued its work well into the 21st century and its leadership met in mid-February to review a very successful 2023.

KEY FACTS AND FIGURES

At their 2023 ‘Year in Review’ meeting on 14th February, the extent of the branch’s inner workings was revealed.

The Monegasque Red Cross is made up of 77 employees and operates a network of over 700 volunteers, who represent an astounding 52 nationalities. In total, these helpers donated over 56,000 hours of time to the association and impacted the lives of an estimated 66,300 people around the world.

Of its €8 million budget last year, €2.5 million was earmarked for international use, with €1.2 million used for humanitarian efforts and €1.3 million for relief funding. The rest of the budget went toward a variety of local activities that include youth programmes, social services, first aid missions and the like.

Some 5,000 people received first aid training through the Monaco Red Cross in 2023. Indeed, the charity facilitates the first aid training of all children aged 12 and up in the Principality.

The charity’s environmentally-minded efforts were also noted at the meeting, such as the support provided to the running of Monacollecte, European Waste Reduction Week and the second-hand clothing collections held in collaboration with the Centre Hospitalier Princesse Grace.

THE FUTURE

Never resting on their laurels, the board at the Monegasque Red Cross used the annual review session to lay out some plans for the future, including the goals of improving access to the volunteer process and expanding its network of volunteers further.

The association is set to be very visible in 2024, with first aiders expected to be on hand at the Monaco Grand Prix in May and the Paris Olympic Games and Tour de France later in the summer.

The 75th edition of the Red Cross Gala is also set to be held this year, an event that is one of the Principality’s most beloved and well-attended of the summer social season.

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Photo credit: Frédéric Nebinger / Monaco Communications Department

‘New’ Restaurant: The metamorphosis of Blue Bay Marcel Ravin

by: Cassandra Tanti

19/02/2024

It’s been five months of design work, and years of creative development in the mind of Marcel Ravin, but finally, the two-Michelin starred Chef is happily welcoming patrons “home” to his new dining space at the Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel and Resort.

On 10^th February, the Martinique chef symbolically took ownership of his flagship restaurant, renamed Blue Bay Marcel Ravin, during an inauguration honoured by the presence of Prince Albert II of Monaco. The new dining space marks the realisation of a dream for Chef Ravin, whose main aim is to evoke an emotion in his guests.

The award-winning chef is renowned for sharing his Caribbean history on the plate, but it appears as though Monte-Carlo SBM has given him carte blanche to take guests on a sensory and emotional journey into the entire universe of Marcel Ravin.

“When people come to my restaurant, they can expect to feel at home,” Chef Marcel Ravin told Monaco Life during a recent press dinner. “It is important that everyone feels at ease here, and that they understand what is inside me.”

Travel with the chef across the five continents

Drawing inspiration from the natural world, and in harmony with his cuisine, the Blue Bay Marcel Ravin is anchored in the five elements: fire, earth, metal, water and wood.

This is expressed in the intricate wave patterns on the tabletops, the textiles adorned with botanical motifs, the coral dividers, an interplay of lights, and the weathered metal marked by the passage of time.

The tableware alone is an elaborate artistic display – each plate carefully handmade to reflect an element, accompanied by bespoke glassware.

It all creates an overwhelming sense of calm, harmony and connection with the planet.

An open kitchen

At its core is the beating heart of the restaurant, an open kitchen that affords guests an intimate union with the chef and his brigade, seamlessly extending the culinary narrative from the kitchen to the dining space.

“It is important for clients to be able to see all of these people who are so important to the restaurant, and the work that it takes in order to create this menu,” says Chef Ravin.

New experiences on the plate

Complementing the set menu, and in addition to the chef’s signature dishes like the Monte-Carlo egg with cassava truffle and Creole passionfruit, is a new series of dishes for an even richer experience. They include a chicken madras with Caribbean dumplings and prawns; lobster dumpling with coconut curry and trout roe; and lamb colombo with citrus and polenta.

The cuisine continues Chef Ravin’s unique fusion of the Caribbean and the Mediterranean, two lands that he clearly has a lot of love and respect for. The menu changes every four weeks in accordance with the garden.

New ‘Food and Wine’ combinations have also been created by the chef and his sommelier, as well as a ‘Food and Aromas’ pairing that is alcohol-free and plays on fermentation and infusions with herbs, plants and fruit.

The result is a culinary journey that begins with subtle, earthy flavours, and quickly explodes into the exciting, punchy tones of the Caribbean.

“This menu is built on my memories, it is a souvenir of my childhood,” says Chef Ravin, who grew up on the island of Martinique. “It was my grandmother who was in the kitchen, this is the cuisine of my family, it is the history of my life.”

La Table de Marcel Ravin

A monumental table carved from solid oak and following the spirit of the five elements allows an intimate group of eight guests to be carried away during a personalised dinner with Chef Ravin and his team. The experience features 20 meticulously curated courses, orchestrated by the Chef, for an “unforgettable dining experience suspended in time”.

“The new Blue Bay Marcel Ravin is an ode to life, nature and the richness of the Caribbean,” concludes Chef Marcel Ravin.

Menus start at €175. For reservations, call +377 98 06 03 60, or click here

See more of our experience in the Instagram reel below…

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RELATED ARTICLE:

New distinction for Blue Bay restaurant and Chef Marcel Ravin

Main photo of Chef Marcel Ravin source Monte-Carlo SBM

School holidays: Art and philosophy initiation workshops at Monaco’s Villa Paloma

by: Stephanie Horsman

19/02/2024

In a first for the Nouveau Musée National de Monaco, the institution is teaming up with the Rencontres Philosophiques Monaco to offer children aged six to 10 the opportunity to delve into the worlds of art and philosophy during the upcoming school holidays. Here are all the details.

The two cultural entities have come together to design three different workshops and courses specifically for young minds.

Featuring works from the museum’s Pier Paolo Calzolari: Casa Ideale exhibition, the art and philosophy sessions are set to combine both thought-provoking and creative aspects for an all-round engaging and enlightening experience.

See more: Explore Pier Paolo Calzolari’s ‘Casa Ideale’ at the NMNM’S Villa Paloma

From 2pm to 4pm on 26th and 27th February, then again on 28th and 29th February, children aged eight to 10 will be invited to explore a world that combines artistic expression and philosophical reflection.

Students will have a chance to discover the Pier Paolo Calzolari exhibition alongside the museum’s cultural coordinator, Coline Matarazzo, after which they will be given the opportunity to raise questions on the themes of dreams and time with Alicia Polzella Gauduel, a philosopher who regularly hosts seminars here in Monaco.

The third course is targeted at six to nine-year-olds, and will run from 4th to 7th March from 2pm to 4pm.

Using Arte Povera-like methods, a genre made famous by Calzolari, the young students will get to know the artist’s work and blendi paint and salt together for artistic effect before creating their own night-time landscape scene. This hands-on experience will be led by cultural coordinator Sharon Jones.

To reserve a space on any of the courses, or for more information, email public@nmnm.mc.

Photo source: Monaco Communications Department

Monaco’s first high rise, The Schuylkill, getting a €170 million makeover

by: Stephanie Horsman

19/02/2024

The Schuylkill, Monaco’s first luxury high rise building and now a bit past its prime, has been saved from demolition by its owner, Sylvia Ratkowski-Pastor, who has decided to give it a remarkable €170 million facelift instead.

Built in 1963 and named for the river that runs through Princess Grace’s hometown of Philadelphia, The Schuylkill was known for being the first of a kind in the Principality. At 17 storeys high, the Gildo Pastor-built edifice was the tallest building in the country at the time and considered very cutting edge. It was such a rarity that upon its completion, it was officially inaugurated by Princess Grace herself.

Fast-forward half a century and the building, which is located between Boulevard de Suisse and Avenue de la Costa, is due for a refresh, which is exactly what the property’s owner, Sylvia Ratkowski-Pastor, deputy president of SAM Sociétéimmobilier du Soleil, has decided to do, according to a report by Monaco Matin.

Ratkowski-Pastor has earmarked an enormous sum, €170 million, to renovate the structure rather than take the wrecking ball to it, and her reasoning is quite touching.

“Deep in my heart, I didn’t want to take away my grandfather’s soul. It was complicated to destroy what he had created,” she told Monaco Matin. “When I inherited the Schuylkill, we studied the work to be done. With everything that was asked of us in terms of energy, we saw that it was a real thermal sieve. We had to be as ecological as possible, to do something without destroying the concrete, especially since this one is excellent because, at the time, the sand came from the Roya River.”

FORTY MONTHS OF WORKS

The choice to rehabilitate was a long road that took six years to come to fruition. The firm chosen to do the works, Zaha Hadid Architects, started doing surveys of the building back in 2018 to see the state of it – not only architecturally, but also structurally.

Construction began in January, with the completion date set for June 2027.

“We are starting with the seven levels of infrastructure and the parking lot,” said François Lallemand, the local architect in charge of the project, to Monaco Matin. “The volume of parking will increase and residents will be able to now exit via Avenue de la Costa and Boulevard de Suisse via a helical ramp.”

During construction, the site will be cleaned, taking it back to the bones before rebuilding it from the inside-out putting in all new insulation, wiring and the like, as well as making it earthquake compliant – something it was not as it was built before the 1969 laws on making structures tremor-resistant went into effect.

According to Monaco Matin, the 15^th to 17^th floors will be completely redone to accommodate the poshest flats in the building, which will eventually have 142 rental apartments up for grabs as opposed to the more than 200 previously.

Modern conveniences will replace outmoded spaces, like maid’s rooms, with a fitness centre, a pool, a clubhouse and a mail room being created.

As the residents will not be able to live in a construction zone, they will move out during the renovation period, but have been given first dibs on the new spaces. “They will have priority and several have made a pre-reservation,” said Ratkowski-Pastor, who also assures they will enjoy a preferential rental rate over newcomers.

ENVIRONMNETAL IMPACT

The site has been awarded a silver certification from the Mediterranean Sustainable Buildings of Monaco label, just losing out to a gold by a hair. “Gold is only issued to new buildings, which may appear contradictory because concrete is what pollutes the most,” explained Ratkowski-Pastor.

The Schuylkill will be heated and cooled by a thalassothermal loop (ocean energy) and the building will recycle grey water from showers to water gardens and for toilets. As for the construction, the owner says reusing and recycling as many materials as possible is a top priority.

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Photo: Ingetec S.A.M

France’s game plan to tackle school bullying

by: Stephanie Horsman

19/02/2024

One in 10 children at school in France is likely to be the victim of bullying and harassment, a statistic the French government is keen to change.

Following the launch of its pHARe project to improve the ways that schools and their staff members handle bullies and bullying, the government has launched a free and confidential hotline and accompanying website that allows pupils to report incidents, receive impartial support and get advice on what steps to take to combat bullying.

The 3018 number has been up and running since September 2023. Staffed by lawyers, psychologists and digital tool specialists, anyone who is feeling under threat can call the number between 9am and 11pm every day of the week. The 3018 team can also be contacted via the website.

Monaco launched a similar service earlier this year.

See more: Monaco launches new anti-bullying hotline for victims and witnesses

Alongside the 3018 service, the government has added a number of other measures to its anti-bullying arsenal, with the intended aim of eliminating it in schools completely.

The pHARe programme, the government’s comprehensive plan for the prevention and treatment of bullying situations, has now been rolled out in every school in the country, online support for parents is to be integrated into the scheme by the end of this academic year, and all teaching staff are to receive specialist training on how to manage bullying over the next three years.

There are also 380 fully trained and dedicated anti-bulling support officers in France. A list of these helpers by region can be found here.

Read related:

France steps up anti-bullying measures in schools

Photo source: Andrik Langfield, Unsplash

Day: 19 February 2024

Sports round-up: Roca Team’s highs and lows, AS Monaco suffer Toulouse setback