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Cycling: Monaco’s Tour de France route revealed

by: Luke Entwistle
14/03/2023

The contours of the final stage of the 2024 edition of the Tour de France, which will depart from Monaco before finishing on the Promenade des Anglais, have been revealed. 

The Tour de France traditionally concludes on the Champs-Élysées in Paris and has done so in every edition since 1905. However, due to the French capital’s hosting of the 2024 Olympic Games, the Arrivée has had to be relocated.

As revealed back in December, the 2024 edition of the Tour de France will conclude in Nice. The Côte d’Azur city previously hosted Le Grand Départ in the heavily Covid-affected edition of 2020. There will be a discernably different atmosphere when the peloton passes through Nice in 2024.

Paris-Nice the blueprint for the penultimate stage

There will be two days of cycling around the region in July 2024. The first day (the 20th stage of the event) will see the riders depart from Nice and head towards Col de la Couillole.

Photo of Beking 2023 by Monaco Life

The peloton will take the route followed by the Paris-Nice peloton last weekend. The penultimate stage of the Paris-Nice, won by Tadej Pogacar ahead of David Gaudu, represented a test event of sorts. The organisers of the Tour de France are sufficiently satisfied by what they saw during last Saturday’s race, which concludes with a climb up to 1,678 metres above sea level.

A historic Monaco stage

The Tour de France has not visited Monaco since Le Grand Départ back in 2009. The Principality will now host the Départ of the 21st and final stage of the 2024 event, and for the first time since 1989, the race will conclude with a time trial.

Whilst not reaching the heights of the previous day, riders must still tackle an undulating route. They will first head into Beausoleil and continue their ascent into La Turbie. They will then head west towards Èze, reaching a maximum height of 508 metres.

The riders will then descend into Villefranche-sur-Mer before concluding on the Promenade des Anglais for the final race for the iconic Yellow Jersey.

 

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Photo of Tour de France, Nice 2020 by C. Martino

Monegasque virtuoso Stella Almondo headlines launch of The Sea is Green

by: Cassandra Tanti
14/03/2023
the sea is green

Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer on Saturday launched The Sea is Green initiative at a special dinner recital, marking a year of action on the theme of the sea that will bring together art, culture and solidarity.

Under the stunning Eiffel glass dome of the Hôtel Hermitage, guests were treated to a piano concert by 16-year-old Monegasque virtuoso Stella Almondo, an art exhibition by Jean Boghossian, and a gastronomic meal and wine pairing imagined by Chef Yannick Alléno.

Echoing the pioneering action of Prince Albert II of Monaco, his commitments on the international scene and the actions of his Foundation, The Sea is Green is the first theme in a year-long campaign by the Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer (SBM) to promote the protection of the oceans. This will be followed by ‘New Wave’, ‘Et vogue le navire’ (And Sail the Ship), and ‘Mer de glace‘ (Sea Ice).

In launching the initiative on Saturday 10th March, newly appointed CEO Stéphane Valeri spoke of SBM’s dedication to sustainable development, highlighting that all of the company’s establishments are Green Globe certified, and the Resort is working towards becoming one of the very first in the world to obtain this certification in its own right.

Art inspired by the sea

To give the theme an artistic dimension, SBM asked artist Jean Boghossian to come up with a series of works inspired both by the sea and by the ambition of sustainable development. As a result, the Syrian-born artist created La Mer Incandescente: plaques that mimic the sails dotting the horizon during regattas, which will be displayed in the gardens and streets of Monte-Carlo. He is also showcasing in the halls of the Hôtel Hermitage his ceramic sculptures that incorporate corals and sea shells.

“In 2016, I acquired the collection of the shell museum in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, which was due to close,” explained Jean Boghossian. “The collection was therefore able to continue to be presented to the public. They are marvels, each shell is as beautiful as a precious stone.”

Monegasque virtuoso Stella Almondo performing during The Sea is Green event on 10th March

Monaco’s young concert pianist steals the show

The evening highlight was Monegasque pianist Stella Almondo. At just 16 years of age, this talented performer has already garnered an impressive track record, winning numerous competitions including the Flame in Paris, the Steinway & Sons in Cannes and the International Young Chopin Competition in Switzerland.

After giving her first concert at the age of 10, Stella has since performed with the Orchestre National de Cannes, the Slovak Sinfonietta Orchestra and the Monte-Carlo Opera for the Printemps des Arts. She also performed for the National Council in Monaco, where she impressed outgoing president Stéphane Valeri so much that he invited her to take part in Saturday’s event.

Guests were treated to five concertos, including Schumann’s Sonata n°2 and Chopin’s Étude Op. 25, No. 12 ‘Ocean’.

Radio Classique Journalist and Presenter David Abiker was MC for the evening, while pianist Camille Taver amused guests with his improvisations around the theme of the sea.

Under the Eiffel glass dome

The dinner was served, for the first time ever, under the Eiffel glass roof of the Hôtel Hermitage Monte-Carlo. The Winter Garden, as it is known, had its dome designed and erected by the disciples of Gustave Eiffel, the undisputed master of metal architecture.

The meal was specially composed by Chef Yannick Alléno (Pavyllon Monte-Carlo) to illustrate the theme The Sea Is Green.

Overall, the evening was a pleasure to the senses, combining art, music, gastronomy and creative ambition with the joy of living and an ambition to protect the ocean: Monte-Carlo in a nutshell.

Click on the gallery below to see more images of the evening…

 

See more in the reel below…

 

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A post shared by Cassandra Tanti (@cassandratanti)

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All photos source: Monte-Carlo SBM

 

Monaco Age Oncology: The stage for a radical virtual reality treatment for cancer patients

by: Elsa Carpenter
14/03/2023
monaco age oncology virtual reality

Virtual reality and its ability to alleviate stress and soothe the minds of cancer patients will be the focus of a fascinating workshop at the upcoming Monaco Age Oncology conference, which takes place later this month. 

In the same way that cancer treatments can be hard on the body, they can be tough for the mind and spirit too. That’s the subject of one of the workshops planned for the 2023 Monaco Age Oncology (MAO) event that will highlight the revolutionary new use of virtual reality in the care of cancer patients at the CHU Lyon Sud and Saint-Étienne Nord. 

The workshop will take place on Thursday 23rd March at 2pm in the Monte-Carlo Congress Centre. There, care givers from the two hospitals will present their experiences and findings alongside a virtual reality simulation, which will give attendees personal insight into how VR could be incorporated into their own practices.  

The concept uses VR headsets with digital stereoscopic technology to whisk the patient away to a different “environment” during treatment.  

As Gilles Freyer, a professor of oncology at the medical oncology departments of the CHU Lyon Sud and Saint-Étienne Nord as well as the president of the Organising Committee of the MAO, explains, “The brain is focused on what it sees and what it hears thanks to the immersive device. The [patient] experiences these sensations and is disconnected from the treatment in progress.” 

It is a thoroughly sensory experience that “provides patients with a state of general relaxation and offers considerable benefit against anxiety”. 

“It provides psychological comfort, which is coupled with real physical effectiveness against nausea,” continues Professor Freyer. “We were also able to measure that the relaxing effects persist several hours after the administration of the treatment.” 

The workshop is open to all participants of the MAO event, which runs between 22nd and 24th March. More information on the conference can be found here.  

READ MORE:

Monaco Age Oncology 2023: Major medical meet heads to Grimaldi Forum

 

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Photo source: Adrian Deweerdt for Unsplash

Prince Rainier III: A series of major events set to commemorate the centenary of the Builder Prince’s birth

by: Stephanie Horsman
13/03/2023
prince rainier III

Ahead of the 100th anniversary of her father’s birth, Princess Stephanie has revealed details about the main events that will celebrate Prince Rainier III. From a gala ball to a concert in New York, there’s plenty planned for the coming year.  

Known as the Builder Prince, Prince Rainier III’s reign was marked by many changes that modernised Monaco, leaving a legacy that is still very much felt today. It is well known that he was instrumental in the creation of both Fontvieille and Larvotto, clawing back land from the sea to expand the territory, but he was also a social trailblazer, putting in place a new constitution and making Monaco an international destination, notably through his marriage to Grace Kelly, who then became his Princess.   

He also can be credited with the establishment of several of the Principality’s best-known events and organisations, including the Monte-Carlo Television Festival and the Monte-Carlo International Circus Festival. 

2023 marks the centenary of his birth: 31st May 1923  

In his honour, his daughter Princess Stéphanie has put together a programme of events that will celebrate this remarkable man. 

“This is the culmination of several months of work,” Princess Stéphanie told the local press. “The first events will take place at the end of May… I think we are going to have a great year paying tribute to my dad.”  

Planned events

The calendar of events kicks off on 31st May in a day of tribute for Monegasques and residents. This date will also see the launch of an exhibition entitled ‘The Prince at Home’, which will be displayed in the Grand Apartments of the Palais Princier de Monaco. Various other exhibitions, such as ‘Prince Rainier III, A Sailor Above All’ at the Yacht Club de Monaco and the ‘100 Years of Metamorphosis of the Casino Square’ in Monaco’s Carré d’Or, will also celebrate his legacy. 

June will see a concert by the Rainier III Academy of Music on 14th, a conference by friend Jacques Boisson on 15th, and a special concert by the Carabinieri Orchestra at the United Nations in New York on 19th. 

In July, Monaco’s technical and hospitality school will be renamed the Prince Rainier III School, complete with a ceremony and special unveiling of a bust.  

On 21st October, the Centennial Ball will be held at the Monte-Carlo Casino as a moment that heralds back to the glorious days of parties and balls hosted by Prince Rainier III and Princess Grace.  

A National Day event involving the 1st Tirailleurs Regiment, with whom Prince Rainier III served at the end of the Second World War, will take place on 19th November.  

In addition to these official events, many Monaco institutions and establishments will organise their own complementary occasions. A documentary film about his life is being put together, the Oceanographic Museum will toast his links to Jacques Cousteau, the Yacht Club is putting on a feature highlighting his love of boats, and a vintage car parade will celebrate his passion for automobiles.  

What’s most important to all the organisers involved is inclusiveness, which they hope will culminate in side-events put on by individuals that will complement the official schedule. 

“The idea is to show everything he has done for our country and which still benefits some people today,” said Princess Stéphanie. “He was an incredible man and a wonderful dad, even if sometimes I missed him because he worked a lot. He also considered all the other Monegasques as his children.”  

For the full schedule, please click here.

 

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Photo courtesy of the Palais Princier de Monaco

 

 

 

Tennis: Monte-Carlo Masters next up for USA-barred Novak Djokovic

by: Luke Entwistle
10/03/2023

Novak Djokovic won’t feature again before the Monte-Carlo Masters in April, after the world number one withdrew from the Indian Wells Masters due to his vaccination status.

The 22-time Grand Slam winner had difficulties prior to last year’s Monte-Carlo Masters. He was ultimately denied the chance of competing in the first Grand Slam of the calendar year in Australia, and arrived at the prestigious clay-court event at the Monte-Carlo Country Club short of competitive action.

Djokovic out of Indian Wells and Miami Open

This time around, Djokovic was allowed to compete in the Australian Open, a tournament that he ultimately won, but he won’t be allowed to compete in the United States later this month.

Djokovic remains unvaccinated against Covid-19 and the US requires all visitors to be vaccinated; at least up until 10th April. The Indian Wells event, one of the most prestigious tournaments outside of the traditional Grand Slams, has therefore started without the Serbian international.

With Djokovic failing to be granted special permission to compete in Indian Wells, the Monaco resident has also pulled out of the Miami Open, which is due to take place between 20th and 27th March.

Djokovic to make his return on Monaco clay

Following his exit from the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships earlier in March, Djokovic said that, should he be refused access to the US, he would take time off and prepare for the Monte-Carlo Masters, which take place between 8th and 16th April.

“If there’s no America, I guess I’ll play clay. Monte-Carlo is probably the next tournament. If that’s the case, I’ll take some time off and prepare,” said Djokovic.

The tournament represents a home event for the Serbian tennis player, who lives year-round in the Principality. Djokovic has won the competition twice, but hasn’t lifted the trophy since 2015. Last year, he was knocked out by Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the first round. Djokovic will be hoping to go much deeper into the tournament this time around, with the full list of players set to be released on 13th March.

 

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Photo by Carine06

Where to watch Les Gardiennes de la Planète in Monaco

by: Stephanie Horsman
09/03/2023
Les Gardiennes de la Planète

Les Gardiennes de la Planète, a project supported by the Prince Albert II Foundation and that premiered in Monaco last month, is now on screens across the Principality.  

Humpback whales are a wonder of nature. Weighing up to 40 metric tonnes and reaching lengths of 17 metres, these amazing creatures were once hunted almost to the brink of extinction. Today, their populations are slowly recovering, but they still face dangers from humans, such as noise pollution, net entanglements and collisions with ships, which are keeping their numbers low.  

A new film, Les Gardiennes de la Planète, or Whale Nation in English, directed by Jean-Albert Lièvre and supported by the Prince Albert II Foundation, hopes to enlighten people to the humpback whale and show it for the sensitive and intelligent animal it is.  

The premise is of a humpback whale who is beached on a remote shore. During the fight to save its life by a group of rescuers, the story of these extraordinary creatures who have roamed our planet for more than 50 million years unfolds, with actor Jean Dujardin “voicing” the whale’s story, as if the whale were telling the tale itself.  

The Cinema des Beaux-Arts in Monaco will be screening this heart-warming, poignant and thought-provoking movie at 2.pm on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and at 4.15pm on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.  

READ MORE:

The Guardians of the Planet premieres in Monaco

  

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Photo source: Les Gardiennes de la Planète