Nearly 400 schoolchildren from across Monaco headed down to Fontvieille earlier this week to take part in this year’s ninth edition of the Princess Charlene Rally, an event promoting the values of sport in building self-confidence, teamwork and resilience. Princess Charlene was among the local figureheads to attend and cheered on the students as they completed a series of tasks that tested their physical and mental strength.
Held on Wednesday 2nd April, the ninth edition of the Princess Charlene Rally saw close to 400 schoolchildren from troisième classes in Monaco (the equivalent of Year 10 in the UK or freshman grade in the US) turn out to participate in a range of activities, from races to lifesaving courses.
The event, which is organised on an annual basis by the Department of National Education, Youth and Sports (DENJS) in partnership with the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation, Peace and Sport, the Monaco Anti-Doping Committee and the Monaco Parents’ Association (APEM), is all about promoting the values of sport and this year coincided with the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace, set to be celebrated around the world on Sunday 6th April.
The rally schedule featured a number of different events, each challenging in its own way and requiring the students to work together to solve problems or complete tasks. The students, who represented schools across Monaco, including Collège Charles III, Institution François d’Assise–Nicolas Barré and the SEGPA section of the Lycée Technique et Hôtelier, were put through their paces by the Société Nautique de Monaco in a rowing race on a set of ergometers, participated in a lifesaving course courtesy of the Académie de la Mer, demonstrated their creative side in a drawing competition on the theme of sport and peace, and were tested on their knowledge of the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation, Peace and Sport and the Monaco Anti-Doping Committee in a fun quiz.
There was a strong educational element to the day. In addition to the rally, the students also participated in an engaging discussion on the values of sport, led by athletes Kevin Crovetto and Pierre Frolla, ambassadors for the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation and Peace and Sport, as well as Marlène Nidecker, a Peace and Sport ambassador.
As the event came to a close, prizes were awarded to the morning’s winners, with Princess Charlene tasked with handing over two of the top awards: one for the best drawing and another for the overall first-place team.
Before heading off to enjoy the rest of the day, the students, the Princess and the teams who helped make the event a reality came together for a symbolic White Card photograph in support of Peace and Sport’s global campaign for 2025.
In a statement published by the Monaco Government, a representative for the event said, “The Princess Charlene Rally has become a key event, embodying Monaco’s commitment to sport, education and solidarity. It highlights the balance between physical activity, crucial to young people’s development, and intellectual awareness through educational and prevention-focused workshops. Enthusiasm ran high, with each participant eager to contribute to a noble cause—promoting the harmony of body and mind. Through this initiative, Monaco reaffirms its dedication to nurturing a fulfilled and engaged younger generation, embodying the universal values of sport and peace.”
To see more photographs from the Princess Charlene Rally, click on the images below:
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Photos credit: Stéphane Danna / Palais Princier de Monaco / Éric Mathon