On the eve of the UCI Road World Championships finale, Prince Albert II of Monaco joined President Paul Kagame and UCI President David Lappartient at the Kigali Convention Centre for the Gala Dinner. His visit to Rwanda included a number of activities including touring beekeeping schools in Musanze operated by the French Observatory of Apidology, as well as inaugurating a new primary school in the same district. The itinerary of his brief stay in Rwanda is also understood to include high-level discussions with President Kagame aimed at further deepening Monaco-Rwanda ties across sports, conservation, and cultural diplomacy. Who is Prince Albert II? Born in 1958, Prince Albert II is the only son of Prince Rainier III of Monaco. Monaco is a small sovereign city-state located on the French Riviera in Western Europe. It is the second smallest country in the world, after Vatican City, but one of the most densely populated. It is known for its wealth, luxury, and glamorous lifestyle. Prince Albert’s path to the throne began in the early 2000s, as his father’s health declined. Following Prince Rainier III’s death on April 6, 2005, Albert ascended as Monaco’s 32nd sovereign ruler on July 12, 2005. His love for sport stands out as it led him to found the Monegasque Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation in 1987 and compete as a five-time Olympian. Since 1985, he has been an active member of the International Olympic Committee, serving in various capacities, and in 1994 he became chair of Monaco’s Olympic Committee. In 1996, he was awarded the Eagle Award by the United States Sports Academy for promoting peace and goodwill through sport. He serves as vice-chairman of the Princess Grace Foundation, which supports emerging artists in theatre, dance, and film, and has taken leadership roles in numerous sporting and humanitarian organizations, including Peace and Sport and the Automobile Club de Monaco.
