Monegasque Olympic Committee

Report 2018

•   Winter Olympic Games 

From 9^th to 25^th February, PyeongChang in South Korea hosted the 23^rd edition of the Winter Olympic Games.

The Welcome Ceremony took place on 8^th February in the Olympic Village in the presence of H.S.H. the Sovereign Prince, followed by the Opening Ceremony on 10^th February at which Rudy Rinaldi was the delegation’s designated flag bearer.

H.S.H. the Sovereign Prince watched our athletes during the events, offering them his encouragement. The Prince and the delegation also had an opportunity to spend some quality time together at the Monegasque Olympic Committee’s traditional dinner on 13^th February.

The results were as follows:

• Alexandra Coletti in Alpine Skiing ranked
  • 30^th / 45 in the Super G
  • 27^th / 39 in the downhill,

• Olivier Jento in Alpine Skiing finished
  • 28^th / 65 in the combined
  • 38th / 62 in the Super G
  • 38^th / 110 in the Giant Slalom

• Rudy Rinaldi and Boris Vain in the two-man bobsleigh sealed an admirable 19^th position out of 30 participants.

• The Mediterranean Games 

For the 18^th Mediterranean Games which took place from 22^nd June to 1^st July in Tarragona, Spain, the Monegasque team consisted of 21 athletes: 5 women and 16 men, taking part in 13 sports. This was the largest team since Monaco first took part in 1955.

The Welcome Ceremony on 20^th June preceded the Opening Ceremony (22^nd June) at which Kevin Crovetto was the flag bearer.

H.S.H. the Sovereign Prince travelled to Tarragona on 26^th June to provide close support to the delegation. He cheered on the athletes and enjoyed a relaxing lunch in the Mediterranean Village before meeting Mr Amar Addadi, President of the ICMG, accompanied by Mr Alejandro Blanco, President of the Spanish Olympic Committee, Mr Francisco Granero Jiminez, the Consul of Monaco in Barcelona as well as other dignitaries and members of the organisation.

We should commend the outstanding performance of our athletes who won two silver medals for: Xiaoxin Yang and Lucas Catarina, in Table Tennis and Tennis respectively.

Furthermore, 5 athletes made it to the final:

• Quentin Antognelli 4^th in Rowing.

• Jessica Samarati 5^th Bocce Volo.

• Jeremy Moutout 8^th in Laser Sailing. 

• Kevin Crovetto 17^th in Artistic Gymnastics.

• Wenceslas Thomel 25^th in individual equitation.

All the other participants obtained a very honourable and promising score for the future:

• Bocce Volo: Jessica Samarati 6^th in the volo progressive throw.

• Boxing: Hugo Micallef 9^th

• Athletics: Charlotte Afria.

• Judo: Yann Siccardi in -60 kg, Cedric Bessi in -73 kg Nicolas Grinda in -90 kg and Marvin Gadeau in + 100 kg.

• Water Skiing: Alexandre Marsan.

• Laser Radial: Lisa Caussin-Battaglia.

• Bocce Volo: Florian Valeri Volo and Michel Audino and Jacky Petturiti in boules.

• Swimming: Claudia Verdino.

• Beach volleyball: Pascal and Vincent Ferry.

• Summer Youth Olympic Games 

The 3^rd Summer Youth Olympic Games took place from 6^th to 18^th October in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The event was preceded by the 1^st “Olympism in Action Forum”.

5 athletes competed in these Games:

• Charlotte Afriat (Athletics)
• Claudia Verdino and Emilien Puyo (swimming)
• Ludovic Palmaro and Olivier Lanteri (Beach Volleyball)

At the MOC dinner on 5^th October, the Sovereign Prince and all the delegation members were joined by Mr and Mrs Rubinelli, President of the Monaco-Argentina Association, as well as members of the association.

On the following day, Charlotte Afriat, flag bearer, took part in the parade with the delegation at the Opening Ceremony at the foot of the Obelisco in the heart of the city centre and for the first time ever out of a stadium.

On 7^th October, H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco travelled to the Youth Olympic Village to visit the apartments and have lunch with the delegation, after which he watched several sports events.

The results were as follows:

• Upon completion of two races, Charlotte Afriat finished in 24^th place out of 42 contestants.

• Olivier Lanteri and Ludovic Palmaro: 25^th out of 32 teams.

• Emilien Puyo ranked:
  • 45^th in the 100m butterfly;
  • 37th in the 200m butterfly;

• Claudia Verdino ranked:
  • 31^st in the 200m medley;
  • 26^th in the 200m backstroke.

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