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Month: July 2025

AS Monaco unveils Japan-inspired away kit for 2025/26 season

by: Cassandra Tanti
18/07/2025

AS Monaco has revealed its new away kit for the 2025/26 football season, created in collaboration with Japanese sportswear brand Mizuno. The design, inspired by Monaco’s Japanese Garden, blends cultural symbolism with fresh aesthetic elements to mark a stylistic shift for the Principality’s club.

The shirt features a striking pattern on the front panel, drawing on the meticulous design of Zen gardens. Repeating lines and circular shapes mirror the raked sand formations found in traditional Japanese landscaping, reinterpreted through the layout of Monaco’s own Japanese Garden – a landmark nestled near Larvotto that symbolises the Principality’s ties to Japan.

The shirt’s dominant blue tone references the kit of Japan’s national team, known as the ‘Blue Samurai’, and is meant to evoke qualities of discipline, honour and resilience. It is the first time in AS Monaco’s history that this combination of blue and gold has featured on an official kit.

Gilded accents and environmental focus

The shirt’s gold embellishments – adorning the collar, sleeves, club crest and Mizuno’s ‘Runbird’ logo – add a refined touch, intended to capture both Monaco’s elegance and the reverence of Japanese design. The club’s rallying cry “Daghe Munegu” is printed in gold on the back, just below the collar.

The kit is constructed from 100% recycled polyester, aligning with Mizuno’s ongoing push towards more sustainable production methods. It is the second kit to be unveiled by AS Monaco this summer, following the release of the home strip in June.

Launched with ‘MA’ aesthetic campaign

Monaco’s players showcased the new away kit in a campaign shot within the Japanese Garden itself, drawing on the Japanese design concept of MA – the balance between space and form. The visuals seek to express the harmony between movement, environment and identity, underscoring the fusion of cultures that defines the new kit.

AS Monaco will wear the away shirt for the first time in their third pre-season fixture this Saturday, 20th July, when they face Nottingham Forest at the SMH Group Stadium in Chesterfield.

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Photo source: AS Monaco

Monaco’s U18 rugby‑7s squad heads to Budapest with continental title in their sights

by: Cassandra Tanti
18/07/2025

On Thursday, Monaco’s under‑18 rugby‑7s team departed for Budapest, full of hope and ambition as they prepare to contest the European Championships. Coached by Aurélien Lazzaro, the young Monégasques are determined to seize their first continental title, returning to the stage after narrowly missing out last year due to goal‑difference.

Last summer, Monaco’s U18s came heartbreakingly close to the crown, finishing level with Andorra but losing out on goal average. The players, still stung by that reversal, arrive in Hungary ready to write a new chapter in their rugby‑7s story.

A blended squad shaped by shared experiences

Half the squad return from last year’s near miss, while the newcomers bring the confidence of their U16 African tour in 2023, part of the inaugural South Africa–Monaco Rugby Exchange supported by the Princesse Charlène Foundation. Those shared experiences have forged a united group, eager to represent the Principality with pride.

Riding the wave set by the Seniors

This momentum follows a golden spring for Monaco’s senior team, who claimed gold at the Games of the Small States of Europe in May before being crowned European champions in Andorra in June. Their success has bolstered the U18s’ resolve to follow suit in Budapest.

U18 squad and staff

The team comprises Louis Kordzinski, Dorian Albin, Jaz Barres Mucret, Quentin Chamard (captain), Tom Lacascia, Andrea Minioni, Trystan Allioli, Neo Piezzi, Evan Gamalov, Noah Bentz, Sacha Weill and Noa Joho. Supporting them are coach Aurélien Lazzaro, DTN Jérémy Benstaali, manager Thierry Danthez and physiotherapist David Spinetta.

Tournament programme

Fans can follow Monaco via Rugby Europe Live. On Friday 18th July they face Bosnia‑Herzegovina at 10:22 and then Hungary at 15:28. Saturday sees matchups against Austria at 10:28 and Serbia at 16:16.

Monaco Life readers can anticipate an exciting weekend as the next generation of Monégasque rugby chase their own European glory, inspired by the senior team’s recent triumphs.

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Photo source Monaco Rugby

Scientific Council reviews key IMSEE studies at 17th annual session in Monaco

by: Cassandra Tanti
17/07/2025

The 17th meeting of Monaco’s Scientific Council for Statistics and Economic Studies took place on Monday 14th July at the Ministry of State, with President Professor Pierre Dubois leading discussions on recent and upcoming projects that aim to enhance the Principality’s statistical capabilities.

During the session, Alexandre Bubbio, Director of Monaco’s Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (IMSEE), presented a series of key developments. These included the introduction of a new real estate price index per square metre, the findings of the 2024 ESPAD survey on adolescent behaviour, and the latest population census. He also highlighted upcoming projects such as the Tourism Survey, a renewed study on gender pay gaps, and the Institute’s migration to the NAF 2025 classification system.

Council members propose improvements to Monaco’s statistical framework

The annual session serves as an important forum for expert dialogue. This year, Council members shared insights and outlined areas of concern, while also putting forward new ideas to further reinforce Monaco’s statistical infrastructure. Their role, while consultative, is instrumental in shaping the national survey programme and ensuring data-driven policymaking.

Marc Vassallo, Secretary General of the Government, closed the meeting with a speech acknowledging the dedication of the Council’s members and the IMSEE’s vital role in delivering reliable indicators. “These tools are essential for understanding Monaco, monitoring its evolution, and anticipating future challenges,” he said.

Working lunch with interim Minister of State

Following the session, Council members were hosted for a working lunch by Isabelle Berro-Amadeï, interim Minister of State. The engagement further underscored the government’s ongoing support for robust and independent statistical governance in the Principality.

Comprising 11 members from civil society, government, and legislative bodies, the Scientific Council advises the Minister of State and helps to safeguard the independence of statistical work. It contributes directly to the selection of studies and the annual survey programme.

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Photo credit: Stephane Danna, Government Communications Department

Lisa Pou wins Monaco’s first-ever World Championship medal in open water swimming

by: Cassandra Tanti
17/07/2025

Lisa Pou has made sporting history for the Principality after claiming a bronze medal in the 10km event at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore, marking the first time a Monegasque swimmer has reached the podium at this level.

Lisa Pou swam her way into Monaco’s record books on 16th July by clinching a bronze medal in the 10km open water race at the World Aquatics Championships. Battling stifling heat that forced more than two dozen competitors to abandon the event, Pou delivered a stunning performance, finishing just over six seconds behind the gold medallist, Australia’s Moesha Johnson. Italy’s Ginevra Taddeucci took the silver.

It is the first time a swimmer representing Monaco has secured a medal at a World Championship, and Pou’s result has been hailed as a milestone for Monegasque sport. Her final time of two hours, seven minutes and 55 seconds sealed a podium finish in an elite field of international athletes.

Carrying momentum from recent success

Pou’s form in Singapore continues her successful streak from the Games of the Small States of Europe, held at the end of May, where she captured two gold medals. In Tuesday’s race, she remained competitive throughout each stage, handling the extreme weather conditions with remarkable composure and stamina.

More races ahead

The bronze medal may not be her only accolade in Singapore. Pou is due to compete again in the 5km event on Thursday and the 3km sprint on Saturday. With Monaco now firmly in the spotlight, all eyes will be on the young athlete to see if she can add to her historic medal tally.

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Photo source: World Aquatics

Nice gallery explores infinite blue in summer exhibition

by: Kyriaki Topalidou
17/07/2025

A major art exhibition celebrating the colour blue opened in Nice this month, bringing together 35 international artists in a tribute to what organisers describe as “the immense depth, power, and fascination” of the hue. 

Le Grand Blue, running from 2nd to 19th July at Neo art & culture lab x VogelART, has been curated by renowned artist Gregor Hildebrandt.

The show features an impressive line-up of contemporary artists including Albert Oehlen, Alicja Kwade, Anselm Reyle, Douglas Gordon, and Julian Lennon, alongside Nice’s own blue master Yves Klein. The exhibition aims to explore blue “as a state of being, an emotion, and an infinite space.”

“From the sea as a place of longing to the ocean as a symbol of boundlessness, this exhibition plays with the immaterial, the infinite, and the sublime aspects of blue,” the gallery states. It promises an immersive experience combining sculptures, paintings, photographs, and installations.

Grand Blue exhibition, photo provided by Neo art & culture lab x VogelART

Homage to Yves Klein

The exhibition also pays homage to Klein’s vision of the sky over Nice as the “ultimate work of art,” creating what organisers describe as “an atmosphere of floating, lightness, and meditative vastness.”

NEO, located in Nice’s Le Port district, opened in July 2024 as a collaboration between Sebastian and Simon Vogel and Luc Clément. The 300-square-metre space, housed in a former workshop for crafting billboards and neon lights, has already hosted more than 15 events including exhibitions and concerts.

The gallery is easily accessible from Port Lympia metro station and sits close to Place Garibaldi and the Musée d’Art Moderne et d’Art Contemporain.

Le Grand Blue runs until 19 July at NEO art & culture lab, 6 bis rue Lascaris, Nice.

See also: 

Interview: Julian Lennon on living the dream

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Main photo provided by Neo art & culture lab x VogelART

 

CREM marks 15th anniversary with a dazzling soirée at Villa Paloma

by: Cassandra Tanti
17/07/2025

The Club des Résidents Étrangers de Monaco (CREM) celebrated its 15th anniversary in elegant, retro style with a glamorous evening at the iconic Villa Paloma, paying tribute to the spirit of the Roaring Twenties and the enduring legacy of Coco Chanel.

On the evening of 7th July, the Club des Résidents Étrangers de Monaco welcomed its members to the stunning Villa Paloma, one of the two sites of the Nouveau Musée National de Monaco, for a celebration that was anything but ordinary. The anniversary marked a major milestone for the club, which since its founding in 2010 has grown into a vibrant, international community at the heart of the Principality.

Inspired by the museum’s current exhibition, Les Années folles de Coco Chanel, the evening invited guests to step back in time to the glittering 1920s.

With jazz melodies floating through the air, retro accents in every detail, and members dressed in era-appropriate style, the atmosphere was one of playful sophistication and shared nostalgia.

Photo credit: Renaud Olivier

Immersive art and timeless elegance

A guided tour of the Chanel exhibition provided an artistic and cultural centrepiece to the event, immersing guests in the creative explosion of the 1920s and the life of one of fashion’s most revolutionary figures. The exhibition celebrates Coco Chanel’s transformative influence on women’s style and the artistic freedom of the time — perfectly mirroring the evening’s tone of elegance and innovation.

Adding to the occasion were thoughtful surprises, light-hearted moments, and a strong sense of conviviality — a signature of CREM gatherings. The anniversary celebration wasn’t simply a party; it was a living expression of the club’s identity: inclusive, welcoming, and infused with international flair.

Photo credit: Renaud Olivier

From dream to legacy

Founded in 2010 with the vision of creating a warm and supportive space for Monaco’s foreign residents, CREM has evolved into a home away from home for nearly 500 members representing more than 50 nationalities. Over the past 15 years, the club has cultivated a strong network rooted in community, culture, and connection.

“CREM has become a true international family within the Principality,” said the organisation in a statement. “This anniversary is both a moment to look back on how far we’ve come and an exciting step into the future.”

Photo credit: Renaud Olivier

Looking ahead

As a toast was raised to the past, present and future, the evening closed with a renewed sense of purpose. CREM’s mission — to welcome, connect and support foreign residents — continues with an ever-growing list of projects and events that reflect the dynamic spirit of its members.

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