Prince Albert II’s private collection of Olympic torches has gone on display at the Grimaldi Forum, in an exhibition that was officially opened by the Princely couple, both former Olympian athletes, on Monday.
Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene inaugurated the exhibition ‘The Olympic Flame through the ages’ on Monday 18th July, a tribute to the Olympic heritage of the Princely family of Monaco.
It showcases Olympic torches from the private collection of Prince Albert II of Monaco and was organised by the Monegasque Olympic Committee. Held at the Grimaldi Forum Monaco, it marks the centenary of the third Olympic gold medal in rowing won by John B. Kelly Sr., the grandfather of Prince Albert II (1924-2024).
The collection features 40 iconic torches from the Olympic Flame Relay, from Berlin in 1936 to Paris 2024. The torches are displayed on a unique 40-meter-long structure, divided into two sections: one for the Summer Games and the other for the Winter Games.
The innovative scenography of this exhibition allows visitors to travel through time. Each torch, in addition to being an engineering masterpiece, reflects the innovation and aesthetics of its time and the host country of the Olympic Games.
The exhibition celebrates a family passion for sport, transmitted from generation to generation. Prince Albert II of Monaco has a notable Olympic history, having competed in five Winter Olympic Games as a bobsleigh athlete.
He participated in both the two-man and four-man events at the 1988 Calgary, 1992 Albertville, 1994 Lillehammer, 1998 Nagano, and 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics. Although he did not win any medals, his dedication to the sport and the Olympic movement is evident.
Princess Charlene of Monaco, formerly Charlene Wittstock, represented South Africa as a swimmer in the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, where she competed in the women’s 4×100 meter medley relay and her team finished in fifth place.
The free exhibition ‘The Olympic Flame through the ages’ is on display until 18th August.
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All photos credit Eric Mathon, Prince’s Palace