The countdown begins. On July 26, the city of Paris will kick off the new edition of the Olympic Games. Before the sporting competition begins, the Torch Relay continues its epic journey across the four corners of France. This Tuesday, June 18, the famous torch will make a stopover in the Principality of Monaco, as revealed by our colleagues from France 3 Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur. A meeting in which Albert and Charlene of Monaco will take part. Indeed, the father of twins Jacques and Gabriella will be the last to carry the Olympic Flame. He will thus have the difficult task of bringing it to the main gate of the Prince’s Palace. When he has only a few meters to go, Prince Albert II will be accompanied by his wife.
If the princely couple is one of the torchbearers, other renowned Monegasques will have this privilege. At 2:15 p.m., in front of the statue of Juan Manuel Fangio, Formula 1 driver Charles Leclerc will be the first to enter the race. Then, the champion of the Monaco Grand Prix will pass the baton to Alexandra Coletti. Then the Olympic flame will be in the hands of table tennis player Xiaoxin Yang and bobsleigh pilot Rudy Rinaldi. An event that already promises to be memorable on the Rock.
Albert and Charlene of Monaco: fervent supporters of the 2024 Olympics
A sporting event that they wouldn’t miss for anything in the world. During his visit to Mayenne on May 5, Albert II of Monaco gave an interview to the regional daily. During this interview, the brother of Princesses Stéphanie and Caroline spoke at length about the next Olympic Games. A member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and with numerous participations in the Winter Games, he assured of supporting the Monegasque athletes during this international competition. “We will encourage the athletes of the Principality with my wife, Princess Charlene, and our children. My family’s history is obviously linked to the Olympic Games”, did he declare. And to continue: “This centenary of the Paris Games, 1924–2024, also marks a family anniversary: it is there that my grandfather John B. Kelly won his third and final gold medal in rowing with his cousin Paul Costello.”
During this exchange, Albert II of Monaco lifted the veil on the next role he would take on during these Olympic Games. “I actually signed up to present the medals for the same rowing event and I think other members of the Kelly family will be in the stands”, he confided. The story between the Olympics and the Monegasque family has not finished being written.
Photo credits: Action Press / Bestimage