A Rainy Day in Monaco

The day after celebrating Prince Albert II's birthday, the principality of Monaco is quiet at this hour as shop owners get ready to peddle their wares and dog lovers walk man's best friend quickly through a light morning rain.

While here for the IAAF World Gala where the world's top athletes, past and present, will be celebrated Sunday night, one can't help but steal a little time to stop and take in the breath taking sites and sounds of Monaco.

Monaco or Monte Carlo (Officially the Principality of Monaco) is the second smallest city in the world (only the vatican is smaller) and can only be described as a city that has become a favorite for the rich and famous.

When walking to the IAAF press centre (my home for the weekend) I passed rolls royce and Bently dealerships.  (The working class can only afford to drive BMWs!!!)

Littered with shops and cafes, Monaco's most impressive feature is its architecture.  Amazing stone buildings overlooking the Mediteranean Sea.

Another thing that really catches your attention is the small of clementines and limes which grow on trees that line the streets of the city.

Monaco is beautiful place.  A place that can foster dreams.  A place that makes you feel at home even though you know you could never afford to live here.

I've travelled to many places in the world and this one rates near the top.  A place you would come back to for fun.  A place that will not soon be forgotten.

World Gala of Athletics

Day one of travel and preparation. It's been a while since I've been an active journalist - usually one of the folks assisting journalists and being on the other side of the microphone.

For those that don't know athletics, it's really the foundation for all other sports. The basics of run, jump and throw are the principles upon which all other sports are played.

In North America we refer to this sport as track and field (really the only place in the world to do so) and it remains a relatively new sport with a small and dedicated base.

In other parts of the world, athletics and football (our soccer) dominate sports pages and the viewing channels of armchair pole vaulters.

Events like this past summers World Junior Championships began to change that. People got a chance to see first hand how amazing these world class athletes are and how exhilarating these lesser known events can be.

This weekends celebration is the culmination of another successful year in global athletics - a year Moncton made a huge impact on the world stage.

Moncton is represented by familiar faces Bill Whalen and Ian Fowler, both played key leadership roles during Moncton 2010

In speaking with Moncton 2010 President Larry Nelson he was clear that moncton's presence in Monaco is the culmination of years of hard work and amazing results by hundreds upon hundreds of dedicated volunteers.

Over the next few days we'll share our Monaco experience. We'll talk to people about the Moncton experience and how such a small community (globally speaking) was able to put on the event it did. More importantly we'll look at future opportunities that might be available and what would need to be done to bring those to canada and, if all the stars align, New Brunswick.

If you have Moncton 2010 memories share them so we can share those with officials and athletes here.

Until next time keep running,jumping and throwing toward!

Mike Randall
Mike Randall Communications
(506) 878-3025
www.mikerandallcommunications.ca
Mike@mikerandallcommunications.ca

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