The 9th Princess Charlene Rally was held in the presence of Her Serene Highness Princess Charlene on 2 April. The Princess not only attended a conference and juried a drawing workshop, she also attended the awards ceremony and posed for a group photo with a #WhiteCard in support of the global campaign led by Peace and Sport.
“The Princess Charlene Rally combines physical effort, awareness, and creativity. The event aims to teach young people the fundamental values of sport, such as mutual aid, solidarity, and neutrality,” said a recent press release by the Prince’s Government.
Nearly 400 ninth-grade students from the Principality’s three schools (the Charles III College, the François d’Assise – Nicolas Barré Institution, and the Rainier III High School) gathered in Fontvieille for a morning dedicated to sport, solidarity, and peace. Organized in partnership with major stakeholders and the Department of National Education, Youth and Sports, the Princess Charlene Rally is part of the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace, which is celebrated annually on April 6.
Education, creativity and sports
Each school formed mixed teams of four to five students of all levels. The goal? To complete the events together without ever losing team spirit, the key to the success of this friendly competition. A variety of activities to engage body and mind included sporting events, intellectual workshops, and awareness-raising activities.
“The Princess Charlene Rally has established itself as a must-attend event, reflecting the very essence of Monegasque culture. This gathering embodies the harmony between sports, essential to the physical development of young people and intellectual development through educational and prevention workshops,” says a recent press release by the Prince’s Government.
Highlights included an Educational Conference, led by the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation and Peace and Sport, with talks by Marlène Nidecker, Pierre Frolla, and Kevin Crovetto (ambassadors and champions of peace) and a film screening followed by a discussion. Princess Charlene was a juror in the Drawing Competition after a creative workshop invited students to represent their vision of sport and peace through illustrations.
An Ergometer Relay, organized in collaboration with the Société Nautique de Monaco, saw students combine endurance and coordination; while a Rescue Course, guided by the Académie de la Mer, taught students rescue techniques. Lastly, an Educational Quiz allowed students to deepen their knowledge about the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation, Peace and Sport, and the Monegasque Anti-Doping Committee, who were all organizers of the event, along with the Monaco Parents’ Association.
According to organizers of the event, the enthusiasm at the Princess Charlene Rally was palpable, with everyone eager to commit to the noble cause of promoting balance between the well-being of body and mind.
