Hello Monaco #09 Spring–Summer 2020 | Page 48

JUBILEE
ON MARCH 31, 2005 — MONACO’S CROWN COUNCIL TRANSFERRED THE
REGENCY OF THE TINY PRINCIPALITY TO PRINCE ALBERT II, THE HEIR
TO THE THRONE. AND IF YOU TAKE A LOOK AROUND YOU, NO MATTER
WHERE YOU LOOK THE PRINCIPALITY HAS BEEN TRANSFORMED IN THIS
LAST 15 YEARS AND THE PACE CONTINUES.
31 МАРТА 2005 ГОДА КОРОЛЕВСКИЙ СОВЕТ МОНАКО ПЕРЕДАЕТ
РЕГЕНТСТВО НАСЛЕДНИКУ ПРЕСТОЛА АЛЬБЕРУ. С ТЕХ ПОР МИНУЛО
15 ЛЕТ, И ЕСЛИ ХОРОШЕНЬКО ПОСМОТРЕТЬ ПО СТОРОНАМ, СТАНЕТ
ПОНЯТНО, ЧТО ЗА ЭТИ ПОЛТОРА ДЕСЯТИЛЕТИЯ В ЖИЗНИ КНЯЖЕСТВА
ПРОИЗОШЛО МНОЖЕСТВО ПОЛОЖИТЕЛЬНЫХ ИЗМЕНЕНИЙ.
© Gaetan Luci / Palais Princier
THE 21ST CENTURY
PRINCE
Even the icons of the Principality are
experiencing an enhancement including
the Hôtel de Paris and Casino
Square. And new icons have emerged, the
luxury shopping district One Monte-Carlo,
the beautiful Yacht Club and Monaco’s grand
latest extension into the sea, Portier Cove.
Portier Cove follows Fontvieille which was
Prince Albert’s father Prince Rainier’s prior
achievement in extending the territory of
the Principality.
The fifteen year enrichment covers whole
quarters of the Principality, for example,
starting with a new resort Hotel, the Monte-Carlo
Bay, and now Larvotto itself and
the Commercial Centre of Fontvieille in a
massive futuristic sustainable «greening»
project.
The Renaissance is also transforming health
care. Under the impetus of Prince Albert, the
Prince’s Government commissioned a study
for, and the construction of, an entirely new
Hospital. This ambitious project targeted
for completion in 2029 is already underway
and will enable the Princess Grace Hospital
to meet the technical, human, medical and
scientific challenges of the 21st century,
If we look to the skyline, Europe’s second
largest tower, the Odéon, has taken root and
is crowned with the most expensive penthouse
apartment in Europe overlooking
Monte-Carlo. In the sky and in Space, Monaco
has its own satellite with nano-satellites
ever nearer to being launched — and collaborations
with NASA creating the potential for
Monegasques to train as astronauts.
THE SPORTING PRINCE
Monaco has always been a mecca for
sports. Aristocracy, tennis, sailing
and shooting were a constant part
of the Principality’s leisure mix even in the late
1800’s. But never before has the Principality
had two Olympians as Prince and Princess.
Prince Albert himself, a judo black belt and
avid athlete has participated in five Winter
Olympics in the Bobsleigh in 1988, 1992, 1994,
1998, and 2002 and continues his passion for
sports on the International Olympic committee
where he has been a member since 1985
and from 2014 — Chairman of the IOC Sport
and Environment Commission. On October 7,
2013 he was even one of the first torch bearers
for the 2014 Sochi Olympic Winter Games.
Princess Charlène has also leveraged her
sporting background and Olympic stature
through her foundation to save countless
children from drowning.
In this last 15 years as Prince of Monaco, Prince
Albert has been able to reign over indelible
episodes in sports history. Hello Monaco has
chosen three watershed events in particular
that will remain among the most memorable:
ASM Monaco — May 20, 2017. Coach Jardim’s
team celebrates the first title of Champions
of France since 2000. Unstoppable in
the 2016–2017 season the team including
Falcao, Fabinho, Bernardo Silva, Glik, Mendy,
Subasic and Mbappé also made the semifinals
of the Champions League.
Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters Tennis —
Rafael Nadal makes history in 2018 with
11 wins — subsequently immortalized after
10 wins with his own personalized suite in
the Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel and Resort.
Charles Leсlerc’s Formula 1 Grand Prix
win in Monza — What are the odds that a
young Monegasque in Ferrari’s 90th anniversary
year would win their home Formula 1
Grand Prix in the Ferrari SF90. Forever engraved
in the history books!
It is notable that in 2007, only two years
into his reign Prince Albert became Patron
of the International Organization «Peace &
Sport» and since 2011 Patron of the World
Olympians Association — organisations
that use sport to advance the greater good
in society.
THE «GREEN» PRINCE
Prince Albert’s reign started with him
already focused on protecting the
Oceans as chair of the Mediterranean
Science Commission — an intergovernmental
body with 24 member states that mostly
border the Mediterranean coast. In addition,
since 28th May 1993, the Prince had already
led the Monegasque delegation to the General
Assembly of the United Nations. Already
seated at the head of global institutions
Prince Albert’s reign is subsequently continually
punctuated with landmark events
driven by his passion to protect the marine
environment and sustain the global environment
for future generations.
© HelloMonaco
46 / Hello Monaco Spring–Summer 2020
www.hellomonaco.com