Recipe for Monaco’s coolest charity challenge ever
By Nancy Heslin - May 30, 2017
To make the coolest charity challenge, combine a cause, like “drowning claims a life every 85 seconds”, with the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation that was set up in 2012 to address “one of the greatest silent killers on our planet” by teaching children essential water safety skills and how to swim.
Add some worldwide awareness to the cause with one crazy sport event, the Riviera Water Bike Challenge on June 4. The 21-km relay race will involve ten teams of five, who will pedal on Schiller S1 water bikes, what Luxury Travel refers to as “This Bizarre New Watersport Is Taking Over the World”. The idea comes courtesy of Gareth Wittstock, Princess Charlene’s brother, and the choice of a relay is the embodiment of teamwork and team spirit.
Throw into the mix a desirable destination where the event will be held: Mediterranean Sea. The relay will start at Plage Nikaia in Nice and wind along the coast until it finishes at the Monaco Yacht Club.
Photo: Eric Mathon/Palais PrincierPhoto: Eric Mathon/Palais Princier
Spice it up with 20 major sports celebrities, say F1 drivers, rugby giants and Olympians – with two stars assigned to each of the ten teams – and have as many as possible be on hand for the entertaining team draw press junket at the Monaco Yacht Club, where they will take the shiny Schiller S1 for a test drive.
Paula Radcliffe, marathon world record holder
Simon Shaw and Dan Luger, both rugby world champions with England
Esteban Lozada, former Captain of RC Toulon rugby team and Argentinian international
Luciano Orquera, former Italian international rugby player
Mika Häkkinen, F1 World Champion
David Coulthard, former Formula 1 driver
Kevin Crovetto, Olympian gymnast
Pierre Frolla, four-time world record holder in free diving and ambassador for the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation
Toss in a few choice team names – like COCC, Slammers and Monaco Police – for attention-grabbing Riviera Water Bike Challenge headlines.
Let set until June 3 when the teams will come together for the first time at the Monaco Yacht Club. Over a barbecue meal and beverages, they’ll discuss tactics for following day’s race, remembering the rules: one sports celebrity must start the race, and the other finish. The three additional team members, who will be following the water bike in an inflatable boat, can pedal as much or as little as they wish.
Mix all these together, along with a fundraising Gala that was held in March 24 at the Monaco Yacht Club, and you have a recipe for success.
The June 4 Riviera Water Bike Challenge will help finance the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation’s project in Burkina Faso. In partnership with the Monaco and Burkinabe Red Cross, they will transform the Monegasque Pavilion from the Milan World Expo 2015 into a centre to train lifeguards and swim instructors, as well as operate as a first aid and CPR unit, which will focus on countries in the West African region.
Glamour was back in full force Thursday at the Monte-Carlo Gala, as the Princely family welcomed VIPs to the Palace for the exclusive Prince Albert Foundation charity event.
As the Prince Albert Foundation celebrates its 15th anniversary and the Monte-Carlo Gala on Thursday, we speak to CEO Olivier Wenden about the Foundation’s impact on Monaco and the world.
European Heritage Day 2021 will celebrate the unsung heroes of the past, putting women in the spotlight and simultaneously launching Monaco’s first ever Women’s Heritage Day.
Just before Covid struck, Sam and Elizabeth were creating a device in the US to track and trace invisible pathogens. Meanwhile in Monaco, Will Faimatea was looking into air quality on yachts.
The government says masks must still be worn outdoors, despite a significant drop in Covid-19 circulation and a request by the National Council to relax some of the stricter measures.
Divine food and beautiful locations with amazing chefs over seven weeks is the hallmark of SBM’s latest culinary event, taking place from the end of September through to mid-January.
To kick off European Sustainable Development Week, AS Monaco is presenting its new organic vegetable garden intended to help the team boost performance.
A call for participation has been put out for those who would like to make a difference during this year’s European Waste Reduction Week under the theme ‘Circular Communities’.
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Jean-Pierre Schoebel, Director of Herculis 2016, the international track and field meet on July 15, has revealed the list of competing athletes…
With only three weeks to go before the Rio Summer Olympics, the 29th edition of the Herculis athletics competition at Stade Louis II promises to be captivating. Last year, Genzebe Dibaba set a world record in Monaco for the women’s 1500m, with a time of 3:50.07.
This 10th stop of the IAAF Diamond League World Tour brings together the world’s best athletes - including world record holder Asbel Kiprop who will take on Mo Farah in the 1500m - for a total of sixteen events, eight each for men and women, scheduled from 19:00 to 22:00.
“Spectators will have a good time and it’s not at all expensive,” Jean-Pierre Schoebel, Director of Herculis, told Monaco Life, before commenting on how track and field has changed over the last three decades. “The level of athleticism has increased, particularly for women. In the beginning, the same programme was not available to female athletes. Now we have women’s triple jump, pole vault, and longer distances like the 800m.”
Middle distance races, the 800m, 1500m and the mile, are particularly competitive in Monaco due to the protected track, sea level altitude and a good climate. The men’s events include the 200m, 400m, 800m, 1500m, 3000m steeplechase, 110m hurdles, high jump, long jump and discus throw. Women will compete in the 100m, 800m, 3000m, 400m hurdles, pole vault, triple jump, shot put and javelin throw.
Since 1998, a 1000m race has been organised on the day for licensed and non-licensed athletes at Stade Louis II. Some 42 trials for various age and experience categories, will take place from 10:00 to 18:20.
In addition, for the ninth consecutive year, the Monegasque Athletics Federation is organising the “Tournoi de Perchistes”, which will include demonstrations on Tuesday July 12 at the Plage des Jeunes in Villefranche-sur-mer, Wednesday July 13 at Port Hercule in Monaco and at the Plage des Sablettes in Menton on Thursday July 14. Onlookers are invited to try the various track and field disciplines. Tickets can be purchased online or directly at the stadium from €10 to €50.
