During his visit to the Olympic Village, Prince Albert II had the opportunity to sign the peace wall, as did the members of the Monegasque delegation. This strong act of solidarity which brings together athletes of different nationalities and cultures, including the American-Palestinian swimmer Valérie Tarazi and the Israeli footballer Niv Yehoshua, is a symbolic and hopeful moment.
Thomas Bach, President of the International Olympic Committee, highlighted the essential role of athletes as ambassadors of peace. He called for unity and cooperation to promote a message of peace around the world. In these troubled times marked by tensions and conflicts, the voice of sportspeople resonates as a call for harmony and mutual understanding.
Prince Albert II visits the French Olympic Team
The Sovereign visited the French athletes at the Olympic Village, while he visited the Monegasque delegation. Three buildings and over 500 beds were occupied by Team France, who won the most amount of medals they’ve ever won in any Olympics in history. Welcomed by André-Pierre Goubert, Director of the Olympic and High-level Sports Centre at the French National Olympic Committee and Jackson Richardson, head of mission, the Sovereign was able to appreciate the momentous efforts that were made for these Games. The French athletes were immersed in an inspiring atmosphere with red, white and blue decor and a giant screen which featured each athlete’s name.
Prince Albert II and Princess Alexandra visit the Red Cross in Paris
Prince Albert II and Princess Alexandra visited France’s Red Cross headquarters in Paris on 7 August. Prince Albert II, President of the Monaco Red Cross, received information about which measures were implemented during the Paris 2024 Games. The pair also met some of the Monaco Red Cross volunteers, who were working alongside the French organisation.
Prince Albert II and Princess Alexandra attend Water Polo with Monaco’s Sebastien Dervieux as the Referee
Prince Albert II, Princess Alexandra and her boyfriend Ben-Sylvester Strautmann were among the 15,000 spectators during the Croatia-USA men’s water-polo at La Défense Arena on 5 August. AS Monaco’s Sebastien Dervieux had his second Olympic experience in Paris. In Tokyo, he refereed the women’s water polo final.
After refereeing several matches during these Games, Sébastien Dervieux was once again behind the whistle for the match. His wife, Céline Dervieux, a volunteer for the Games, had the privilege of hitting the ceremonial stick three times. This tradition, which took place before each event during the Paris Games, was borrowed from French classical theatre when someone delivers three blows to the floor of the stage with a stick just before the start of a performance. The match was won by USA (14-11).
Prince Albert II and Emmanuel Macron attend the Show Jumping Final
Prince Albert II attended a new Olympic event at the Palace of Versailles with President Emmanuel Macron on 2 August. The UK won the gold medal with only two penalties, USA won silver with four penalties and France won a bronze medal. President Emmanuel Macron wore a white shirt and a tie, while Prince Albert wore a red polo shirt from the Monegasque Olympic delegation. Prince Albert’s niece, Charlotte Casiraghi, is a high-level equestrian.
Prince Albert II and Princess Alexandra at the Paris Olympic Games
Prince Albert II attended events during every single day of the Paris Olympic Games. The Prince and his niece, Princess Alexandra witnessed the USA basketball team win the semi-finals at the Bercy arena on 8 August against Serbia. Ben Strautmann, Princess Alexandra’s boyfriend, is a basketball player who played for the Monegasque club.
Team USA went on to win the gold medal against France. The Americans have won gold 16 times, since the start of basketball at the Games in 1936. (The three times they did not win gold, they won silver or bronze.)
During the athletics event at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis on 6 August, several royals were in attendance, including King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden, King Felipe VI of Spain, Crown Prince Haakon of Norway as well as the Monegasque princely family.
