The Winter Olympics are taking place in China. Most royal families did not want to attend the Olympic Games.
Some did not attend due to the global health situation, while others did not attend for diplomatic reasons, as many countries boycotted sending representatives to the games due to human rights violations. However, Prince Albert II of Monaco did make the trip, as a member of the International Olympic Committee, to the Winter Games.
Prince Albert II had been in China since the start of the Beijing Winter Olympics, and he returned to Monaco this week. The last thing the monarch did before returning home was to make an official visit to the Olympic bobsleigh site, a discipline particularly close to his heart as he competed in the sport in five Olympics. The Prince was accompanied by Monaco’s bobsledders Rudy Rinaldi, Boris Vain and Anthony Rinaldi.
His Serene Highness spoke to the press about the Olympic Games and said: “The Opening Ceremony was very beautiful, very visual and very strong in terms of symbols, but it is the quality of the facilities and the attention to detail that has impressed me the most. At each of the sites I visited, a great effort was made in the quality of the materials used. In terms of sustainability, our Chinese friends have been very imaginative. These Olympic Games will be a very good blueprint to follow for the future.”
Prince Albert continued: “The site is exceptional. I had the opportunity to talk with the President of the International Bobsleigh, Luge and Skeleton Federation, as well as other officials and coaches, friends who were competitors at the same time as myself. We all agreed we have never seen start and finish areas like the ones they have here. These high-quality facilities should be used for the development of winter sports, not only in China but also in Asia.”
Monaco first participated in the Olympic Games during the 1920 Summer Olympics in Antwerp and has since participated in all summer games except in 1932, 1956 and 1980.
They have taken part in all Winter Games since the 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo. However, Monaco has never reached the podium, and they are the nation that has competed in the most Olympic Games without winning any medal.
