With the release of the Monaco Government’s Plan Mobilité, which features a series of possible solutions to the Principality’s long-standing traffic issues, it has been announced that the Compagnie des Autobus de Monaco (CAM) will soon begin testing a new direct bus route from Fontvieille in the west to Larvotto in the east.
6.6 million passengers boarded CAM buses in 2023, a figure on par with pre-pandemic levels but less than the numbers recorded a decade ago.
“We need to work on modal shift, from the car to public transport or soft mobility,” Monaco’s Minister of Public Works, the Environment and Urban Development, Céline Caron-Dagioni, said, adding that people “need not always use their car to get from A to B.”
Her viewpoint on the situation is that if there are better connections and more convenient public transport options available, the general reliance of the population on cars and other light vehicles will decrease.
The proposed Fontvieille-Larvotto line is one such way that the government is seeking to improve the existing network.
“The bus can travel quickly, then suddenly get stuck in a traffic jam,” says Caron-Dagioni. “If it takes an hour to cross the Principality, that’s disappointing. [So] we’re going to test direct lines, the first linking Fontvieille to Larvotto along the seafront, with very few stops along the way.”
The journey is expected to take just 15 minutes and will run on weekdays between 7am and 7pm. It will be called the Ligne 6D and start at the Stade Louis II before taking a coastal route via Avenue Kennedy to Larvotto and heading back along the Rue Grimaldi on the return trip.
A start date for the trial line is yet to be announced.
CAM will also introduce a dozen new Mercedes-built electric buses to the network in the coming weeks to expand its already considerable electric-powered fleet and add to the Principality’s arsenal of more ecologically sound travel alternatives.
As Monaco looks for ways to alleviate its traffic issues and cut down the number of vehicles on its roads, one solution could be as simple as improving pedestrian access in and around the Principality.
Following the unveiling of the Monaco Government’s Plan Mobilité, which has presented concepts such as increased Park and Ride facilities and a shake-up of the existing bus network as methods of easing traffic issues, a vision for a green corridor between the Jardin Exotique district in the northwest of the Principality and the bustling Condamine neighbourhood near Port Hercule has come to light.
“The Government has a vision for the landscape [of Monaco], biodiversity and quality of life,” say the authors of the report. “This involves preparing the Monaco of tomorrow for a better quality of life by promoting gentle mobility between neighborhoods thanks to pedestrian connections considered in advance within the framework of town planning ordinances.”
Essentially, the idea is to improve on-foot connections between the main zones of activity in Monaco – the Palais Princier de Monaco, the business hub in Fontvieille, Place d’Armes, the Jardin Exotique, Monte-Carlo and the restaurant and hotel-rich Larvotto district, for example – by better considering the needs of pedestrians when planning out new projects and developments.
But this also extends to the Monaco here and now, and the government has begun the planning stages of “reconnecting” the Jardin Exotique, a largely residential area, and the vibrant commercial quartier of the Condamine.
The proposed route from the Jardin Exotique to the Condamine will necessitate the construction of several footbridges to allow pedestrians to safely and conveniently traverse major roads. Photo source: Monaco Government
As explained in the report, “The creation of landscaped pedestrian continuity and ecological connectivity between Boulevard de Belgique and Promenade Honoré II will notably make it possible to reconnect the entire neighborhoods.”
The future route will benefit from generous planting to provide shade and respite from the heat for walkers, while public spaces offering “spectacular views of the Rock of Monaco” will be dotted along the walkway.
The Jardin Exotique-Condamine green corridor is the only pedestrian project detailed in the report, but there are hints that a network of dedicated pathways and cycle routes could one day sync up the Principality from north to south and from east to west.
The vital role of the gut microbiome in overall health and the prevention – or proliferation – of disease is to take centre stage at a conference at the Centre Scientifique de Monaco this week, which will see a leading expert in the field of gastroenterology, Professor Philippe Marteau, present his latest discoveries and groundbreaking insights on the topic.
Recent decades have transformed our perspective on the microorganisms that live in our gut. The term ‘intestinal microbiome’ – or more familiarly ‘gut microbiome’ – captures a complex ecosystem of bacteria, viruses, parasites and fungi that plays an essential role in digestion, immunity and general health.
At the upcoming ‘Intestinal Microbiome and Medicine: Research News and Practices’ talk, Professor Marteau will present the discoveries being made at the forefront of gastroenterology research.
“We’re establishing the complex relationships between the microbiome and factors such as age, sex, lifestyle and environmental exposures,” says Marteau, adding how the unique composition of each person’s microbiome can have a significant influence on an individual’s bodily functions in many ways.
“The microbiome coexists in balance with its host,” notes Dorotha Czeruska, a research director at the Centre Scientifique de Monaco, emphasising the importance of this equilibrium for health, indicating that disturbances and imbalances can provoke clinical disorders.
Looking ahead to the conference, Marteau’s anticipation is clear: “Our expanding knowledge of the gut microbiome promises to transform our health management strategies.”
The conference is scheduled for Thursday 15th February at 6.30pm.. A live stream will also be accessible through here.
With backed-up traffic and heavily congested roads, getting in and out of Monaco is no simple task for the nearly 50,000 commuters who take the same overcrowded routes every day. Now, after years of studies, reports and public surveys, the Monaco Government says it has a solution that could alleviate the woes of drivers who feel like adding ‘navigation of a gridlocked road’ to their CV.
It is estimated that more than 49,000 vehicles enter and leave Monaco each day, with that number rising considerably during the high season.
Even at its lowest ebb, the figure more than matches the number of permanent residents living in the Principality, which, at just 2km2 in size, is the second smallest nation in the world.
But despite the near constant gridlocks and jams experienced by Monaco’s commuters, both in and out, the number of vehicles on the road is actually decreasing. Traffic hit its peak in 2015, when the Principality clocked close to 54,000 vehicles entering and leaves its borders. By 2023, that figure fell by 7%, but the government wants to bring this down even more, with a goal to reduce traffic by a full 20% by the end of the decade.
How the government plans on achieving that lofty goal has now been revealed, with the publication of a comprehensive ‘Plan Mobilité’ report. Let’s call it the ‘Transport Solutions’ strategy.
Outside looking in, inside looking out
The Monaco Government is looking at its traffic issues from two standpoints: the vehicles that are travelling in and out of the Principality each day, and the vehicles that are owned by people already based in Monaco.
The latter can be targeted through improved public transport networks, the expansion of services such as the MonaBike initiative and general awareness campaigns championing the act of walking or cycling instead of using a car to get about, but the former is perhaps harder to influence.
External factors
In many ways, Monaco is accessible. It can take around 45 minutes by car to travel from the Nice Côte d’Azur Airport if the traffic is good, while 7.8 million rail passengers arrived in Monaco by train in 2023. But its geographical placement, as a slice of land between the Mediterranean Sea and the cliffs that hem the Principality to the north, make road access somewhat limited.
Essentially, those driving into Monaco have only a handful of routes to choose from and all of them are busy.
Park and Ride
One of the main strategies unveiled in the Transport Solutions report unveiled on Friday 9th February is a plan to increase the number of Park and Ride facilities available to commuters and tourists.
Currently, there are 4,000 carparking spaces for cars and other light vehicles on the periphery of Monaco. Additionally, 3,000 spaces are available in Park and Ride facilities nearby.
By the end of April 2024, a further 1,800 spaces for cars and 90 for motorcycles will become available at the new Salines Park and Ride site in the Jardin Exotique neighbourhood of Monaco.
Electric vehicles – 100 cars and 15 motorcycles – will be catered for as well as tourist buses and secured padlock points for more than 60 bicycles.
Express shuttle services every 10 minutes between Salines, the Monte-Carlo district and the Condamine neighbourhood will be put in place between 7am and 7pm from Mondays through to Fridays. They will complement the existing Ligne 2 from the Jardin Exotique to Monaco Ville so that there is some form of bus connection departing the new Park and Ride facility every five minutes during peak times, says the government.
The pedestrian link between Salines and Fontvieille should take 12 to 15 minutes once complete. Photo source: Monaco Government
A pedestrian route all the way to Fontvieille is also in the works. The first section, between Salines and the Württemberg footbridge via the Saline Gallery, should be up and running when the new facility is opened to the public. The final section connecting the route to Fontvieille is due to be completed in early 2025.
The government estimates that this route will take the average walker 12 to 15 minutes.
Future plans: La Brasca and Cœur de Carnolès
Two more Park and Ride sites are also in the works. The first will be in the La Brasca site in Eze, which will be located close to the A500 tunnel exit and accessed via a new roundabout route. Current plans suggest it will provide an additional 3,000 carparking spaces as well as secure grounds for heavy goods vehicles and tourist buses. An express link between La Brasca and Fontvieille will be set up to connect the site and the Principality, although the chosen mode of transport for the link is not yet clear.
The second location is the Cœur de Carnolès development near the Carnolès train station in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin. This is already under construction as a residential development for local Roquebrunois residents, but Monaco’s Government has committed itself to purchasing 90 of the 405 housing units and 130 of the 844 parking spaces indicated on the plans.
“Discussions are continuing regarding the creation of a Park and Ride site with a minimum of 300 carparking spaces benefiting from immediate proximity to the TER station of Carnolès,” say government sources.
The Municipality of Ventimiglia has unanimously approved a plan to develop land owned by Monaco’s Princely Family for a major real estate project that includes an innovative large-scale botanical school. The development will be a win-win for both Italy and Monaco.
The bold redevelopment of the neighbouring Italian city of Ventimiglia continues, this time with the approval of a major project that will see the Principality invest in the development of land owned by the Grimaldi Family on foreign soil.
Future plans for the former Cava Grimaldi (quarry) in Ventimiglia provides for the construction of a 10,000 square metre real estate complex for residential and tourist purposes. This will be supplemented by approximately 4,000 square metres of ancillary structures as well as around 7,000 square metres of private parking spaces and garages with 170 dedicated spaces.
It is a structure that is designed to meet the needs of the Principality, which is in desperate need of new spaces to handle the overflow from its densely structured territory. The initiative is a continuation of Monaco’s acquisition of the port of Cala di Forte, also in Ventimiglia, which is used as a complementary reception point for the Ports of Monaco.
International Botanical School design for the Terre Bianche area of Ventimiglia
At the heart of the project – a new botanical school
The project includes the redevelopment of a 22,000 square metre plot of land owned by the Principality of Monaco in the Vallone del Rio Sorba, where an innovative international botanical school linked to the Villa Hanbury gardens will be created. It will be equipped with classrooms, auditoriums, and residences for students, as well as laboratories for processing local food products, and an oil mill. A public square will provide around 100 parking spaces and four bus parking spaces for students and visitors.
The international school of botany is an important project that has been in the making for many years now, and it is considered a key aspect to Ventimiglia’s economic development. It will be surrounded by a public park and will be able to accommodate up to 800 students. If all goes to plan, it could open its doors as early as autumn 2026.
The former Monaco quarry will also host a regional park that will be available to the public thanks to a modernised network of pedestrian and cycling paths, connecting the hamlets of Grimaldi, Mortola and Castello Appio. The historic-archaeological route from the Roman era called Iulia Augusta, the cycle and pedestrian path and the municipal coastal area will also be restored.
THE NEXT STEPS
After being approved unanimously by local councillors on 2nd February, a project agreement is now expected to be signed between the Municipality of Ventimiglia and the Grimaldi family, which divides the administrative and construction procedures of the former Cava Grimaldi between the public and private sectors, and the University of Genoa, as manager of Hanbury Gardens. The Liguria Region will be responsible for the Piano Urbanistico Comunale (Communal Urban Planning Plan) and the Piano Territoriale di Coordinamento Paesistico (Territorial Plan for Landscape Coordination), while the Principality of Monaco will be responsible for the design and execution of the work to secure the areas as well as preparing and submitting the draft town planning agreement to the administration and the documentation for building permits.
In an interview with Monaco Life, Director of Pavillon Bosio Thierry Leviez shares insights into his journey, vision, and aspirations for Monaco’s art institution.
When he took over as Director of Pavillon Bosio in September 2021, Thierry Leviez brought with him a solid background and a rich baggage of diverse cultural experiences. Born in Toulouse in 1979, Thierry came to Monaco via Paris, having trained at the Ecole du Louvre and the Ecole du Magasin in Grenoble. Former curator of the Printemps de Septembre exhibitions in Toulouse from 2013 to 2016, he notably led a vast project that revolutionised the Musée des Augustins in Toulouse alongside Jorge Pardo. He has curated several expositions, including the first one devoted to the brick sculptures of Per Kirkeby.
His growing love for scenography, enriched by diverse cultural experiences, transformed him into a leader in exhibition design. So, it is no surprise that he wishes to keep focussing the school around his expertise. While continuing to train artists, Pavillon Bosio aims to offer students the added value of a factual technical background. Scenography is a growing specialty, and the Pavillon strives to become the standard in that field, by continuing to partner with many outstanding international art schools.
Monaco Life: How did you become specialised in scenography?
Thierry Leviez: I worked for nearly 20 years as an exhibition curator, first for a biennial in Toulouse, then as head of exhibitions at the Beaux-Arts in Paris. It has always been clear that art is not a solitary adventure confined to the artist’s studio. There’s a lot at stake in the process of the exhibition making. If you consider scenography in a larger sense, including all the contingencies of an artistic project, that is where things really take shape and get their actual meaning.
22 Pauvres Folles 22 adaptation by Chloe Delaume by 3rd year students of Pavillon Bosio, January 2024 at the Espace Leo Ferre Monaco, photo credit Rossana Rizza
What is the most challenging project that you have done till now?
While working in Toulouse, the art festival started as an annual event and progressively became a biennale. The pace was insane, and most of the shows were produced for the festival, as opposed to exhibitions where you would borrow existing artworks. Some years, we had 20 to 30 international artist projects to stage in as many historical venues in Toulouse as possible. It was a bit crazy and pushed my limits; all the jobs I had after that felt effortless in comparison!
Where do you find your creative inspiration?
Working in an art school is the most creative habitat you can imagine. It is the perfect environment for ideas to flow freely and discuss them all day. I have always considered myself very privileged to work in these conditions, being constantly challenged and surprised.
“As a curator, you’re always like an advocate of the artist.”
What is the most valuable skill that helps you excel in your work?
As a curator, you’re always like an advocate of the artist. You must understand requests that might seem superfluous at logistical or financial levels. Strive to be genuinely convinced that those details will make art happen. In an art school, the scale is different. However, it’s still about understanding the students’ ideas or projections and consistently placing art at the center of everything.
What is your primary role as Director of Pavillon Bosio? Tell us what a typical day is like for you.
My central role is to orchestrate the prolific number of ideas and proposals initiated by the team, the teachers, and the students.
A typical day would include a studio tour, short discussions with the students about their work and administrative tasks, and elaborating collectively on new projects with new partners. Art schools are project-based entities; they are very different from most other schools. Here, the students practice independently, which you must enforce as much as possible. Besides that, you must create situations where somebody can develop collective forms (theatre, dance, exhibition, etc.) can be developed.
Movie studio 2nd year students at Eileen Gray’s Villa E-1027 in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, photo credit Micha Vanony
What are your achievements after two years as director of Pavillon Bosio?
We created many new projects: a collection of books with Manuella Editions, a new post-graduate program that we have called ‘Décors’, a new course in scenography for fashion, a new course in scenography for theatre thanks to Laurent Berger, one of our teachers who is also collaborating with art schools in Lausanne and Brussels, a new round of exhibitions called ‘Garden Club’ written and designed by the students with their works and those of the teachers, new studios for photography and new offices. Meanwhile, we are recruiting patrons for our ‘Friends of Pavillon Bosio’ circle led by Holly Hayward. We will probably inaugurate this new group of friends in the spring.
We are delighted that enrolments are on an upward curve, with twice as many applications in the last two years.
Do you plan to transform Pavillon Bosio into a hub of creative experimentation?
As the school occupies a pavilion that is too small for its activities, it works like a creative platform for projects that take place elsewhere with partner institutions. From the beginning, Pavillon Bosio explicitly focuses on working closely and intensely with local and international partners.
What makes a great art school?
A fabulous art school should be a place of freedom, providing the context and the support for young artists to develop ideas and help them materially to realise those ideas.
Pavillon student looking at film
How would you like to see classrooms evolve in the future?
Precisely, we have classrooms while we should have workshops! In the future, I am dreaming of an ambitious project for a larger Pavillon that involves a building extension.
The Pavillon Bosio has partnered with the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris. What does this partnership consist of?
Long before I arrived, Pavillon Bosio was already working with several prestigious international art schools. There are projects with Head in Geneva, La Cambre in Brussels, La Manufacture in Lausanne, the University of Bratislava, and young curators from La Sorbonne. The partnership with Beaux-Arts de Paris also involves the Paris Malaquais School of Architecture, plus there is another leading Parisian school that wants to join us next year. This annual cycle of 10 lectures is devoted to the mise-en-scène of exhibitions (exhibition display) entitled ‘L’entour.’ ‘L’entour’ surrounds an artwork, all the scenography and contextual elements that transform it into an object of art.
In which ways do the students of Pavillon Bosio contribute to the project with the students of Princess Grace Academy for the Imprevus in March 2024 and their gala in June?
The collaboration with the Ballets of Monte-Carlo has been an ongoing project for more than 10 years. The young scenographers from Pavillon Bosio designed a set for a ballet created by the dancers of Ballets of Monte Carlo (BMC), who act both as dancers and choreographers. This year, as the company will be on tour, we teamed up with the Princess Grace Academy, who commissioned Greek choreographer Elias Lazaridis to create a piece for 20 young dancers from the Academy. The result will be seen in March at the BMC Atelier and again in June at their Gala at the Opera Garnier.
Project preparation by 3rd year students at Pavillon Bosio
What about the fashion/scenography project you are working on with the students at Central Saint Martins University of the Arts in London?
Following the same model, we wanted the school to venture into uncharted territory with a fashion show that will be held on 26th April at Espace Léo Ferré as part of the Monte-Carlo Fashion Week. We initiated a journey two years ago with an international symposium, La mode et ses dispositifs scénique (Fashion and its stage devices). A comprehensive book on that topic will be published next year. For this show, we are working with the Master Students in fashion design at Central Saint Martins. Seven of them are currently designing their collections of six looks, which our students will stage in the theatre. Of course, working with artists, we expect them to create something very different from standard fashion shows, even though we have no idea yet what it will be like!
“Creative people are among the most sought-after in today’s world.”
What role can art and creativity play in supporting the next generation to thrive in the future?
Usually, art school students are somewhat worried about their future and skeptical about the opportunities opened by their art degree. Their parents make it even worse as they struggle to imagine their children making a living from a creative activity. But the reality is radically different. Creative people are among the most sought-after in today’s world. Students I used to work with some years ago at Beaux-Arts de Paris are now traveling internationally through exhibitions, art residences, and foreign cultural programs. These are experiences you can’t get from an office job. While some become artists, most do well in various professional activities.
What is your ambition for the future of Pavillon Bosio?
Monaco can be a privileged place for artists, so I believe the Pavillon has everything to take a leadership role. There’s still work to do to put the Pavillon on the map of international art schools, but seeing it grow from year to year is a great satisfaction.
Monaco Nexus, a members club co-founded by Thibault Paulet, is reshaping networking in Monaco, offering a platform for professionals in AI, tech, and business to connect free of charge.
Monaco Nexus, under Thibault Paulet’s leadership since transitioning from investment analyst to entrepreneur, has expanded from its 2018 cryptocurrency focus to encompass diverse tech and business subjects by September 2023. Paulet highlights, “We’ve made this group free…it’s a purely networking group.”
The Monaco Nexus initiative aims to position Monaco as a key hub for entrepreneurs in business and tech innovation. Hosting regular events with about 25 attendees and a community of 200 members, it provides a networking platform in a casual environment at the Novotel.
Igniting entrepreneurial spirit in Monaco
Thibault Paulet steers Monaco Nexus towards showcasing Monaco as a vibrant business hub. “Our aim is to reveal the business activities unfolding in Monaco, showcasing it as a place of real business opportunities,” he states, aiming to unite people and share insights.
Building on this vision, Paulet highlights Monaco’s emergence as an entrepreneurial hub, driven by its tech and digital expansion. “Monaco presents an array of compelling reasons to be considered entrepreneurial hub… it’s a blank slate for creative projects,” he states.
Future growth
Monaco Nexus aims for growth and formal status in Monaco, with Paulet noting, “We would like to get more guest speakers and also become something more institutionalised.”
In line with these aspirations, Monaco Nexus is also enriching its event line-up, with plans to feature a renowned digital marketer at an upcoming gathering. The events are scheduled for the second Friday of each month.
This initiative was evident in the success of the event on 9th February, where Marc Kaufman from Rimôn Law firm delivered a lecture on ‘Global Generative AI Patents’, marking his first presentation of this research. The successful session at the Novotel bar lounge featured networking and vibrant discussions on technology, law, and business, highlighting Monaco Nexus’s most acclaimed event to date.
Despite challenging weather conditions, the 2024 Monaco Run Gramaglia attracted a robust turnout of more than 2,700 participants of all ages and abilities over the weekend, including around 20 families who joined British running icon Paula Radcliffe for the inaugural ‘Families on Track’ relay event.
The Monaco Run Gramaglia, now in its 14th year, faced mixed weather conditions over the weekend that tested the resilience of both its organisers, the Monaco Athletics Federation, and participants.
Lashing rain and wind on the morning of Saturday 10th February forced the cancellation of the inaugural Mont Agel Trail, but the 550 athletes who took on the alternative City Trail – a demanding route around the Principality that featured over 1,100 steps – were undeterred by the less-than-ideal weather and persevered.
Slovenian runner Timotej Becan emerged victorious, clocking in at 45:19, followed by Sébastien Poesy and Nejc Ursic to complete the podium. On the women’s side, Vanda Lovei from Hungary led the pack with a time of 56:21, ahead of Aurélie Delattaignant and Katia Lisa Operta.
A break in the weather in the afternoon allowed Paula Radcliffe’s five-kilometre ‘Families on Track’ relay to go ahead. She was joined by around 20 family groups for the first-ever edition of the event.
Sunday brought improved conditions and the sun shone for runners in the five-kilometre Hoka and 10-kilometre road race, which both reached full capacity.
New records were set in the Hoka, among them a national record for the Netherlands and a European U20 best for Niels Laros. French athletes Yann Schrub and Laly Polentru also did exceptionally well: Schrub won the men’s race and Polentru set a new French age group record in the women’s category.
Anthony Barriere took the lead in the men’s 10-kilometre race with a time of 30:43 while Mauritian Olympic athlete Marie Perrier took the crown in the women’s.
Another key element of the 2024 Monaco Run was the ever-popular Pink Ribbon Walk, which was concurrently held on the Sunday.
Nearly 300 participants showed up to demonstrate their support for breast cancer sufferers and survivors, and to help raise funds for a new scientific study on lobular breast cancer detection that is being directed by Doctor Florent Hugonnet at the Centre Hospitalier Princesse Grace.
While the Roca Team go from strength-to-strength in the EuroLeague, it is in the Betclic Elite that AS Monaco Basket is shining brightest: the team’s latest win against Boulogne-Levallois marks the 17th consecutive home win in the French league.
The weekend began with an away fixture in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy, where AS Monaco played Virtus Bologna on Friday 9th February.
It was a close contest, but the Italian side saw their 11-game winning streak at home brought to an end by a driven Roca Team intent on gaining a place in the EuroLeague Final Four. The game ended 78-81 in Monaco’s favour.
Post-match, Obradović praised his team’s performance, saying, “It’s an extraordinary win for us. It’s always very hard to beat this kind of team like Bologna at home. A real play-off match, with a big physical battle. We stood firm as a team, and we showed great chemistry tonight. We can dream big for the rest of the competition.”
The recent result against Virtus Bologna increases AS Monaco’s chances of making the Final Four in the EuroLeague. Photo credit: asmonaco.basketball
Next came a Betclic Elite challenge against Boulogne-Levallois in the Salle Gaston Médecin on Sunday 11th February.
Here, AS Monaco excelled again, defeating the visitors 84-72 to extend their winning streak at home in the domestic French league to a stunning 17 games over the last two seasons.
Obradović used this game as an opportunity to rest key players, such Mike James, Alpha Diallo and Mam Jaiteh, ahead of a demanding upcoming schedule and thus allowed other members of the Roca Team to get their moment in the spotlight.
Petr Cornelie, who showcased his talents as a power forward, later emphasised the importance of winning such games.
“We expected it to be a tight game. You have to know how to win this kind of game, that’s the most important thing. And that’s the bottom line. For the group dynamic, it’s always good to stay on this winning streak,” he said after the match.
AS Monaco’s schedule continues with a Coupe de France match at home versus ASVEL on Tuesday 13th February before they face Le Mans in the Leaders Cup on Friday 16th February.
After the torrential rains of the day before, the nearly 300 registered participants of this year’s Pink Ribbon Walk were greeted at the start line on Sunday by a smiling Prince Albert II under a glorious blue sky.
Held on 11th February, the five-kilometre circuit departed Port Hercule for the Palais Princier de Monaco and the Musée Océanographique on the Rock before heading east to the Terrasses du Casino de Monte-Carlo.
The 2024 Pink Ribbon Walk circuit took participants past some of Monaco’s most emblematic sites, including the Palais Princier. Photo credit: Arsi Sebastien Photographe
“We are extremely honoured to have the walk opened by HSH Prince Albert, who, yet again offered his support and well wishes to our association and the work we accomplish,” Natasha Frost-Savio, the founder of Pink Ribbon Monaco, told Monaco Life. “The organisation was absolutely impeccable as usual thanks to the teams at Monaco Run Gramaglia, who outdid themselves, especially with the appalling weather they suffered for their first trial event. We would also like to give a special nod to Paula Radcliffe’s first event in Monaco, Families on Track. It was a really wonderful moment that shone bright despite the (previous day’s) weather.”
Prince Albert II of Monaco and Natasha Frost-Savio, the founder of Pink Ribbon Monaco, are pictured at the start line in Port Hercule. Photo credit: Arsi Sebastien Photographe
The fun run, which also welcomes those who prefer a slower walking pace, is one of Pink Ribbon Monaco’s flagship events and has helped raise thousands of euros in donations over its 12-year history.
In 2024, all profits raised from the Pink Ribbon Walk and the charity’s other events will go towards a new scientific study on lobular breast cancer detection that is being spearheaded by Doctor Florent Hugonnet at the Centre Hospitalier Princesse Grace.
To find out more about the charity and how you can donate to this worthy cause, click here.
Click on the images below to see more from the Pink Ribbon Walk:
The Collège Charles III on Avenue de l’Annonciade has been given the green light to reopen after it was temporarily closed to all students and staff last week in the wake of an accidental leak of noxious gases that caused the hospitalisation of seven individuals.
Five pupils and two members of the maintenance team were briefly hospitalised following the incident, which occurred during routine works in the swimming pool area of the school on Wednesday 7th February. They have since been released in good health.
As reported by Monaco Life at the time, a chemical reaction is said to have generated toxic vapours that spread to the classrooms, with students in 6e and 5e classes particularly affected.
The school was immediately closed and, the following morning, the Monaco Government brought in two teams to perform NRBC-E (nuclear, radiological, bacteriological and chemical) tests in various parts of the establishment, including in the classrooms, corridors, cafeteria and nurse’s station, with a particular focus on the source site of the problem, the swimming pool maintenance room.
Over the weekend, the results of the tests carried out by the Marseille Fire Brigade’s Identification and Sampling Detection Vehicle team and SOCOTEC, an independent third-party company who perform on-site inspections globally, confirmed that the Collège Charles III would be safe to welcome students back for classes as of the morning of Monday 12th February.
“The air analysis and measurements looked for the possible presence of different pollutants such as: carbon monoxide (CO), hydrogen sulphide (H2S), chlorine (CL2), nitrogen trichloride, trihalomethanes, phosphorus, arsenic and sulphur,” announced the Monaco Government in an official statement. “The converging results obtained both by the Marseille Fire Brigade and by the SOCOTEC Control Office, confirm, unequivocally, with no doubt, the total absence of toxic substances in the air within the establishment.”
AS Monaco earned a crucial and sweet victory over bitter rivals OGC Nice (3-2), which not only lifts Les Monégasques back onto the podium but also relieves the pressure that had been building on manager Adi Hütter.
Two teams, two close rivals, but two vastly differing dynamics: Monaco and Nice went into Sunday evening’s Côte d’Azur derby in contrasting form. Whilst Nice were desperately trying to cling onto runaway leaders Paris Saint-Germain and are into the quarter-finals of the Coupe de France, Monaco were eliminated from the competition in surprising circumstances, losing against National 1 side Rouen in midweek, whilst a draw against Le Havre last weekend saw them drop out of the Champions League places for the first time all season.
Monaco’s fans unfurled a banner pre-match, ineloquently calling for the players to click into gear in order to save a season that has gone off the rails, however, both sets of players were greeted with an impressive pyrotechnic display as they took to the field in front of almost 25,000 fans.
Monaco fans with a pyrotechnic display ahead of the Côte d’Azur derby. Photo credit: Luke Entwistle, Monaco Life.
Nice hadn’t lost at the Allianz Riviera all season and had conceded just twice at their home fortress. Francesco Farioli’s side dominate games and dominate possession and they looked like doing so again, with Monaco struggling to get a foothold.
That changed when Denis Zakaria launched a speculative long-range effort from around 30 metres, that rifled into the top corner, leaving Marcin Bulka helpless. However, Nice showed an immediate reaction, squandering a flurry of chances. However, Thilo Kehrer handed Les Aiglons a golden chance to equalise, catching Tom Louchet in the box. Gaëtan Laborde stepped up for the penalty, sending Philipp Köhn the wrong way and levelling the scores.
Dmitry Rybolovlev once again in attendance
Farioli’s side pushed for another before the break and would have got it if not for a sharp save from Köhn after Evann Guessand had worked a one-on-one situation. Laborde could have doubled his account on the night but couldn’t find the finish in a crowded box.
Monaco, who hardly existed in the match for periods, then once again took the lead and it was Zakaria once again. The Swiss midfielder, who was imperious in the midfield, latched onto Takumi Minamino’s cross to head past Bulka.
Things went from bad to worse for Nice, with Dante shown a straight red for a reckless tackle on Minamino just two minutes later. However, the game was not yet won, and there would be further twists.
10-men Nice netted an unlikely equaliser through Guessand as the Allianz Riviera erupted. Monaco were stunned; Dmitry Rybolovlev, who travelled to watch Les Monégasques lose in Rouen in midweek was once again in attendance at the Allianz Riviera, and he looked like witnessing another disappointment.
“One of the biggest victories of the season” – Hütter
However, Monaco showed character with Aleksandr Golovin netting what was ultimately the winner just moments later. Monaco withstood a late wave of pressure from Nice, who were pushed on by their home fans to secure a crucial win, which lifts them to third, and just one point behind second-placed Nice.
“It is one of the biggest victories, why? Because we were under pressure. If you lose it, you’re seven points behind. In this situation, under pressure, in a derby, it is one of the biggest victories of the season,” reacted Hütter post-match.
The Austrian manager, who celebrated his birthday on Sunday, thanked his team for the “gift” of a victory, which not only eases the pressure on him and his squad but also gets the Principality club moving back in the right direction. Should Nice fail to beat Lyon next weekend, Monaco could retake second place when they face Toulouse at home on Sunday.
At the end of February, representatives from Monaco Marina Management (M3) will be heading to the Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina for a GCC Smart Yachting Days event that will unite stakeholders from across the Gulf Cooperation Council’s maritime sector.
On the agenda will be a series of innovation-focused conferences and workshops that will put a spotlight on the latest trends in the yachting world, namely the embracing and adopting of various sustainable and environmentally aware practices. The programme will also present a number of SMART talks – ‘SMART’ meaning superyachts, marinas, assets, real estate and tourism – to offer a global view of how the yachting sector intersects with other industries.
Delegations from Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are expected to join the M3 team for the two-day event on 28th and 29th February.
Shaping the future of marinas and yachting
According to the Monaco-based organisers, the goal of the event is to “shape the future of marinas and yachting [and] create destinations of choice, living places, a whole ecosystem, while putting in place actions to lower the impact on the environment and support innovation”.
“This M3 event is an ambitious initiative aimed at bringing together key players in the yachting industry, from shipyards to designers, architects, innovative startups, and many other renowned professionals,” says M3’s Naïs Dunis. “This annual gathering will be a unique opportunity for the entire yachting community to exchange innovative ideas, participate in fruitful networking sessions, and discover the latest trends and emerging technologies in the field.”
INNOVATION PITCHING COMPETITION
In addition to the discussions and roundtable events, M3 will also be hosting an Innovation Pitching Competition where start-ups can present ideas on how to advance sustainability and the Blue Economy in shipbuilding and marina creation. An awards ceremony will be held on the final day of the event.
With less than six months before the opening ceremony of the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris, a fresh set of tickets has been released for sale.
From 8th February, it will be possible to nab spots at popular events in iconic venues such as the equestrian category, which will be hosted at the Château de Versailles, the judo division in the Champs de Mars Arena, fencing at the Grand Palais and tennis at Roland Garros.
In addition to more spaces to events being available to the public, tickets for the ceremonies will also be up for grabs, notably the Paralympic Closing Ceremony, where prices start at just €45.
Organisers do warn that this crop of tickets will be quite limited, but asks those keen to attend the Games, which are taking place from 26th July to 11th August, not to be too disheartened if they miss out.
“There will be a series of ticket releases at regular intervals over the next few weeks and up to the Games, offering many opportunities to buy tickets for this exceptional event,” reads an announcement on the Paris 2024 official website. “These surprise releases by the ticket office, which will be announced only a few days in advance, will give you the chance to buy tickets for all the sports of the Games.”
Despite 57,000 vehicle stops and hundreds of apprehensions for public drunkenness, Monaco’s police force was unable to prevent the deaths of six people caused by drink driving in the Principality last year. Now, the force is seeking tougher powers and launching new strategies to tackle this endemic issue.
2023 may well go down in history as the worst year on record for drink driving related fatalities in the Principality.
On 7th January 2023, a husband and father of two was killed on his way home from work at the Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel and Resort when a drunk driver behind the wheel of a 4×4 strayed on to the wrong side of the road and collided head on with his scooter.
In the early hours of 1st April 2023, three men in their 30s died when the car they were travelling in smashed into the side of the Louis II tunnel at an estimated speed of 150km per hour before bursting into flames. The maximum limit anywhere in Monaco is 50km per hour. The men had been spotted enjoying the Larvotto nightlife scene before the tragic incident and traces of drugs and alcohol were later found in the post-mortem blood samples taken from the driver.
Then, just days before Christmas on 17th December 2023, five students from the International University of Monaco were involved in a harrowing speeding accident at the exit of the Tunnel du Millenium, close to the border with Cap d’Ail, after spending the night out partying. Two young women died from their injuries, either at the scene or in hospital, while the male driver, who was later found to have been driving under the influence of alcohol, is reportedly still receiving care at the Hôpital Pasteur in Nice.
Combined, these three car accidents led to the deaths of six individuals on Monaco soil. It is believed to be the worst year on record for drink driving related fatalities in the Principality.
At the annual Sûreté Publique presentation in January, Richard Marangoni, the head of the Monaco Police Department, confirmed that tackling the issue of drink driving would be a priority for his force in 2024.
According to Commander Fabien Vachetta, a bill, including a raft of related proposals drawn up at the request of the force, is in the process of being finalised.
On the table is a change to police powers to allow officers to breathalyse drivers before they get behind the wheel, which is currently forbidden under Monegasque law, as well as perform checks on drivers leaving the Principality’s many nightclubs, as is done frequently in France.
Increased sanctions
An increase to the sanctions placed on those found guilty of driving under the influence has also been touted as another preventative measure.
Currently, individuals stopped and fined under Monaco’s public drunkenness and disorder rules stand to receive a €37.50 penalty, which some critics say is simply not enough to deter offenders.
For drivers caught drink driving, the punishments range from a €300 fine if they are found to have between 0.25mg and 0.39mg of alcohol per litre of exhaled air or between 0.50g and 0.79g of alcohol per litre of blood. The fine is doubled if a drink driver is taken before the court.
Should the samples return measurements equal to or exceed 0.4mg or 0.8g, drink drivers can be sentenced to six months in prison and a €9,000 fine.
