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The Prince of Monaco was in Naples, Florida this past Saturday to open the Art of The Olympians museum. As a five time Winter Olympian, and an IOC member, plus the son of an American actress, it seemed natural for Prince Albert II to be the guest of honor at the museum’s opening. Other guests included local politicians and past Olympians.
 Marc Beaudin/news-press.com First there was a breakfast at a private club in nearby Port Royal, where Albert gave a speech to the 100 people in attendance.
“This event has very special meaning to me,” the Prince said. “It exemplifies the Olympic values, which offer lessons in fair play, patience, respect and dedication. These are traits learned through experiences, especially through creative pursuits.”
He went on to say that everything from the school programs to the exhibitions of art reflect the Olympic value of pursuing excellence.
“Everyone is most proud of your achievement. It’s amazing what Olympians can do when they put their hearts to the task.”
Artist Ellen West said she was “thrilled” to be a part of Saturday’s event.
“I think it was marvellous,” she said of the breakfast. “I am so thrilled I got to meet a little piece of Grace Kelly. It brings back memories of those days.”
As the day went on, Prince Albert attended an art fund raising event and finally the reception after the official opening of the museum. The art fundraiser was called, “Painting with the Prince” which had Albert throw a discus at a painting. He was dressed in a regular T-shirt and shorts for that. But he changed into a tuxedo in the evening for the museum’s opening.
Source: Naples News, News-Press
On Monday, members of the Spanish royal family were at El Pardo Palace to give out the National Sports Awards 2010. The award recognizes the athletes, sports associations and other entities that have most highlighted in competition or in supporting the promotion of sports throughout last year.
 Carlos Alvarez/Getty Images King Juan Carlos, Queen Sofia, Prince Felipe, Princess Letizia and Infanta Elena personally handed the large trophies to the winners. Some of the awards were named after the royals themselves.
For example, the Reina Sofia award goes to the Spanish athlete who has distinguished his or herself over the year in their sporting performance, both nationally and internationally. For 2010, it was mountaineer Edurne Pasaban Lizarribar.
Other awards named after the royals included the Premio Don Felipe de Borbon, Princess of Asturias National Prize, the Award of HRH Doña Elena, and the Award of HRH Doña Cristina.
13 trophies were given out to various athletes, including the Spanish football team which won the 2010 World Cup, riders Jorge Lorenzo and Marc Marquez, the Andalusian Federation of Football, athlete Eusebio Cáceres, hockey player Luciana Aymar, the Foundation for Sport Equestrian Championships International Open ATP Spain Castilla y León “El Espinar, the City of Leganés, Universidad Camilo Jose Cela, the advertising agency Villar-Rosàs and tennis player Manolo Santana.
After delivery, His Majesty King Juan Carlos gave “a very special and warm congratulations” to the winners in 2010, “the most brilliant years of the history of Spanish sports.”
“Sport, in its most noble and extensive expression must muster the effort and cooperation of all” and “not only in the disciplines of equipment and more popular,” in which Spain is now the first country in the world, but also in the individual and the less widespread. ”
Source: Casa Real
 REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger The opening of the FIS Nordic World Ski Championship got underway in Oslo Wednesday, and many Norwegians turned out for its opening ceremony. That included the Norwegian royal family, who joined in with the celebrants.
The regent couple, the crown princely family and even King Harald V’s sister, Princess Astrid were present for the ceremony. Crown Prince Haakon had his son, Prince Sverre Magnus on his shoulders as the little Prince cheered and waved a baton.
The sporting event will last until March 6th.
The King and Queen are expected to appear frequently at the various events of the championships. On March 3rd and 4th, Sweden’s Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel will stop by, as well as the Swedish King and Queen on the 5th and 6th. At some point, Denmark’s Queen Margrethe II will make an appearance.
Even Haakon and Mette-Marit will show up. After all, the Crown Prince is part of the advisory board of Oslo 2011, the committee that arranges the championships.
Source: Views and News from Norway
Former Olympic swimmer and Monegasque royal fiancée Charlene Wittstock took part in the 38th aQuelle Midmar Mile Race at Midmar Mile Dam in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa Saturday morning. It was her first time swimming in the race and she did it for charity, specifically to raise money for the Special Olympics.
 Michelly Rall/Getty Images The Midmar Mile Race was the final appearance for Charlene during her stay in her native country this week. Tomorrow, she will do the final part of it.
Before the race, she participated in charity events for the Special Olympics.
On Friday, the future Princess of Monaco was at the St. John’s Diocesan School, also in Pietermaritzburg, where she hosted a charity breakfast for her favorite charity. The breakfast raised $2,300.
After that, Ms. Wittstock inaugurated a swimming pool meant for the school’s competitive swimmers. She cut a ribbon that was reaching across the pool and also unveiled a plaque commemorating the occasion. Charlene even told the students she hoped to see an Olympian come from this school.
In the evening, Ms. Wittstock attended the launch for the “Nelson Mandela Intimate Moments Exhibition” by Kerry Muldoun at Liberty Midlands Mall.
The next time Charlene will return to South Africa will be right after her July wedding to Prince Albert II of Monaco. On the 11th of that month, she and Albert will be attending the International Olympic Committee meeting.
Source: Royal News Examiner
The fiancée of Monaco’s Prince Albert II is back in South Africa for a few days this week. Charlene Wittstock is there mainly to compete in the Midmar Mile swimming race, but also for some appearances. On Thursday, she handed over a check for South Africa’s Special Olympics at The Golden Horse Casino Hotel in Pietermaritzburg, and on Friday she has more appearances to make.
 Michelly Rall/Getty Images But in the meantime, Charlene is spending time with some family and also took time to chat with a local reporter about her becoming a Princess and her wedding to Prince Albert this July.
“I am very happy about the wedding; Monaco is a beautiful country and I love everything about it,” she told Benoni City Times reporter Clyde Meela.
“Some of the interests that the Prince and I share are sports, environmental and humanitarian causes.”
Benoni is the name of the town Charlene grew up in.
Although she has adjusted to life in Monaco, the Princess-to-be admitted to being a tad homesick. “I miss my relatives, the friendly people and the Bunny Park,” she said.
But she aims to meet up with some friends in Durban during her stay. “I am really looking forward to a braai [barbeque], seeing my friends and, if possible, even going to a Sharks’ match.”
Mostly, Charlene talked about the Midmar Mile race to Meela. “I am thrilled about the visit and while I have not had time for much training due to my commitments and I am not in Olympic condition, I am sure I will enjoy my first Midmar Mile,” she said.
“It’s a fantastic, world-class event and, as I have been involved in the Special Olympics in Europe, I saw this as an opportunity to give back and raise funds for the Special Olympics in South Africa, while swimming the race at a social level.”
Getting back to her future life as a royal, Charlene was asked if she believed she was living a fairytale.
“If any woman can find someone who truly loves her and is lucky enough to marry him, then that is a fairytale to me,” she replied.
The Midmar Mile takes place on Saturday. After that, it is back to Monaco to prepare for her wedding. But Charlene will still find time to visit South Africa: in July, right after her nuptials, she and the Prince will return for an International Olympic Committee meeting.
Source: Look Local
 Profimedia.cz, Newscom Sports run deep in Monaco’s princely family and that was evident this weekend as the two daughters of Princess Caroline took part in their respective sporting events. Princess Alexandra of Hanover, age 11, skated in the Coupe de la Garde while big sister Charlotte Casiraghi did her equestrian at the Bordeaux International Jumping competition.
Princess Caroline beamed as her youngest daughter performed her skating routine in Toulon, France. Alexandra has been a competitive figure skating for some time now.
Although she slipped during her routine, Alexandra still had her mother’s pride and joy afterward.
That same day, Charlotte Casiraghi was competing in Bordeaux, France for another equestrian event. She has been doing horse jumping for years, but no word if she is aiming for the 2012 Olympics.
 NICOLAS TUCAT Competing alongside fellow horse jumper, Athina Onassis, granddaughter of Aristotle Onassis, Charlotte is all business. She does not talk to reporters and barely speaks to anyone else. All she concentrates on is her horse, Tintero.
Despite her focus, Charlotte fell during this event and was eliminated in the prize of the Amazons.
As mentioned, the Grimaldis’ are really athletic. Prince Albert II represented Monaco in the Winter Olympics during the 1980s in the bobsledding event. Niece Pauline Ducruet, daughter of Princess Stephanie, is competitive diver looking to take part in the 2012 Summer Olympics.
Starting in July, the Monegasque royals will add Albert’s bride-to-be Charlene Wittstock to their list of athletes. She once swam for South Africa in the 2000 Olympics in the backstroke event.
Sources: Nice Matin, France 3, Sud Ouest
The announcement of the host countries of two FIFA World Cup events took place in Zurich this Thursday. For nearly a week, royals from the United Kingdom and Qatar were campaigning for their countries to win in 2018 and 2022. However, one nation was left downcast while the other was jubilant.
 Michael Regan/Getty Images First came the announcement of who was to host the 2018. Since earlier this week, Britain’s Prince William – who is President of the Football Association – campaigned for England to host the biggest football tournament in the world alongside Prime Minister David Cameron and football star David Beckham.
Today, the Prince had his final push. “I love football, we English love football and it would be an honour for us to host the World Cup,” he said before the 22 executives of FIFA.
“It’s a supremely powerful force for binding people together.
“I also give you an assurance that England is committed to developing football internationally as a member of your football family.”
William also referred to his forthcoming marriage to Kate Middleton, saying: “We can deliver extraordinary public occasions – I certainly hope as I’m planning quite a big one myself next year.”
But later FIFA’s Sepp Blatter revealed England only got 2 out of 22 votes, meaning it didn’t even make it to the final rounds. Instead, Russia won to be the host nation of the 2018 World Cup
The look on Prince William’s face clearly showed his disappointment. He later expressed sadness for England not winning.
But the royals of Qatar were overjoyed when their tiny Gulf state became the first Mideast nation to win a World Cup bid. That country will host the 2022 Cup.
 Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images “Thank you for believing in change,” Qatar’s Emir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, said as he accepted the win with his wife, Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser al-Missned.
The previous day, Mozah made a passionate speech to FIFA, asking them: when?
“Mr Blatter and members of the Executive Committee, I would like to ask a question: When? When do you think is the right time for the World Cup to come to the Middle East?” she asked.
“You will realise from our bid how important this World Cup is for our region. A World Cup in Qatar will send an important message to the world that after 92 years of waiting, we will finally become a recognised part of the global football family,” Sheikha Mozah added.
But now that has been realized for Qatar. The country, barely the size of Connecticut, is among the world’s wealthiest. It originally bid for the 2016 Summer Olympics, lost that one but gained the World Cup.
Sources: Press Association, The Peninsula, Stamford Advocate
Prince William is currently in Zurich, Switzerland where he is pushing for England’s bid to host the 2018 FIFA World Cup. The President of the Football Association joined Prime Minister David Cameron and football star David Beckham for the campaign.
 Photo by Matthew Childs - Pool/Getty Images “If we are successful, I know you will join me in welcoming back to our shores the greatest show on earth,” William said in a message to English football fans.
England is in competition with Russia, Spain-Portugal and Netherlands-Belgium for perhaps the biggest sport event in the world.
William added: “Football is in the lifeblood of this nation. From local playing fields up and down the land, right up to Wembley itself, English people live and breathe the game.
“It unites us in a way that reaches far beyond club rivalry and allegiance.
“England’s passion for its national game is legendary, and would ensure that a Fifa World Cup here would be an unforgettable experience for football fans everywhere.
“Our defining ambition is that 2018 must inspire young people the world over to play football and benefit from all that this great sport offers – team spirit, health, a focus in life, the values of sportsmanship and fair play and, above all, just the sheer thrill and excitement of playing the game.
“This would be our legacy. That is why I want so desperately for the Fifa World Cup to come here.”
Prime Minister Cameron told reporters why England is the best place for the World Cup.
“We have an incredibly strong case, the best technical bid, and we can make the biggest commercial success of the World Cup. We can have full stadiums, we have everything necessary to make this work and we are going to give this 110 per cent over the next couple of days,” he said.
Supposedly, Netherlands-Belgium will not make it to the final round, giving England a better shot at the bid.
The announcement of who would host the 2018 World Cup would come on December 2nd.
Source: BBC Sport, Daily Mail
Princess Haya, the wife of the Sheikh of Dubai, was re-elected as president of the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) on Friday during a voting session in Taiwan. The Jordanian-born Haya won 90 of 124 votes cast to win the required two-thirds majority. She will serve a second four year term.
 REUTERS/Caren Firouz/FILE “Thank you so much for your confidence and trust. I promise that I won’t let you down,” 36 year-old Princess Haya told delegates. “I am truly humbled by what you have done for me.”
She beat opponents Sven Holmberg of Sweden, who was the FEI vice president and got 23 votes, and Dutchman Henk Rottinghuis who got only 11 votes.
Haya won despite the controversy surrounding her first term. There were some saying she created a undemocratic atmosphere as she served as president.
“I took criticism seriously, and I have learned a lot, ” she said, adding that the greatest lesson she has learned was that it is important to cope with diverse cultures and deal with people in an international organization.
The Princess, who is the half-sister of Jordan’s King Abdullah II, competed in the 2000 Summer Olympics in the equestrian event.
She has made it her mission to avoid any doping of the horses in the sport.
This will be Princess Haya’s last time as FEI President. One of the rules she changed in her first term was to have a two-term, four year presidency. Her tenure will end in 2014.
Sources: AP, Focus Taiwan News Channel
The wife of the Sheikh of Dubai, Princess Haya, is to run again as president of International Equestrian Federation (FEI). She announced this on Saturday, when the Princess published her program for re-election.
 STR/AFP/Getty Images “It has been a great privilege to serve as President of the FEI for the past four years, and I would be honored to have the opportunity to consolidate the gains and the progress we have made in a second and final term,” Haya said in a statement.
In Princess Haya’s outline, she pledges to develop an FEI Solidarity Program, based on the Olympic Solidarity model with athlete representation and full voting rights at FEI executive board level. She also plans to make formal connections between the FEI, racing, polo and other equine sport organizations.
Princess Haya even pledged that transportation and quarantine challenges will be addressed through compulsory microchipping of equestrian sport horses.
Additionally, there are plans for the FEI’s Veterinary Department to organize a full-fledged transport and quarantine section so eventually the FEI can ultimately ship the horses of the National Equestrian Federations to FEI championships.
“This is a wonderful time for our sport, which is growing around the world and attracting ever-increasing audiences,” Haya said in her statement.
“This has been a time to reflect on learnings and accomplishments, while also exploring ways that the FEI can better support National Federations and athletes; I’m very excited to share my program ideas, which have been born of my conversations with National Federations and members of our sporting family around the world. Any election is about the future; it’s a time to re-clarify our long-term goals and the steps we can take to strengthen our Federation and our sport. While I’m delighted with how far we’ve come, there is so much more we can do together, and I’m eager to have the opportunity to continue to lead our Federation’s transformation.”
The Princess, who is half-sister to Jordan’s King Abdullah II, was elected to the FEI in 2006 with the intention of modernizing the organization. She was the first to win an contested election for the FEI.
Among her achievements during her first term, Haya improved the FEI’s communications, marketing, animal welfare, finances, grass roots development and liaison with national federations. She also limited the presidency term to two four year terms.
The Princess began competing in equestrian sports when she was 13, and even represented Jordan in the 2000 Summer Olympic Games.
The election of the new FEI president will take place on November 5th in Taipei, Taiwan.
Sources: Gulf News, WAM
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