On May 12, during a meeting with local press, Prince Albert II of Monaco outlined his deep-rooted passion for sports and highlighted his aspirations for the Principality to see its athletes achieve success on the Olympic stage.

He described this vision as a 'long-term secret dream,' expressing confidence in Monaco's potential to secure a place on the Olympic podium.

'I am certain that one day we will have an Olympic podium.

There is no reason why not.

Other small countries have won medals at the Games.

In fact, we have come close to a podium in bobsleigh during the Winter Games,' stated the Prince.

To realize this ambition, Prince Albert emphasized a proactive approach to nurturing young sporting talent.

He pointed out the importance of support systems in place within schools, sporting institutions, and the local associative network.

'In a small city-state like ours, there are many who engage in sports.

We have around 190 integrated clubs, 51 national federations, and almost 10,000 licensed athletes, including those from neighboring French communities.

This reflects the Principality's influence on these areas,' he noted.

In addition to amateur sports, Monaco also enjoys recognition on the professional sports scene.

The AS Monaco football club is gearing up to compete again in the UEFA Champions League, a development that has been welcomed by the Prince as an outstanding achievement.

He also acknowledged the promising performance of the ASM Basketball team, expressing anticipation for their results at the upcoming Final Four.

Additionally, the Prince offered condolences for Lorenzo Renou, a member of the National 3 basketball team who recently passed away in a minibus accident.

He extended his thoughts to the family of the victim and to all those affected by this tragedy, stating that an investigation would be conducted.

He expressed hope for the implementation of better safety measures for long-distance travel in the future.