Sport in Monaco

Sport in Monaco plays an important role in the country's culture. Many people in Monaco enjoy watching and playing sports. The most popular professional sports include association football, motorsports, basketball, and track and field. Athletes and teams in Monaco also take part in many other sports, adding to the lively spirit of the nation.

Motorsports

The most famous event in Monaco is the Monaco Grand Prix, a big car race held on a special track in Monte Carlo. This race started long ago and has been part of the Formula One races every year since 1950.

Besides the Grand Prix, the same track hosts many other exciting races, like Formula 2, Formula 3, and the Monaco ePrix. In 2014, Monaco also started a special race for boats that run on sunlight called the Solar1 Monte Carlo Cup.

Association football

Main article: Football in Monaco

Monaco's most famous sports team is AS Monaco FC, a men's football club that plays in the top French league, Ligue 1. They sometimes compete in big European tournaments like the UEFA Champions League and play their home games at Stade Louis II.

There is also a women's football club, AS Monaco FF, that plays in the French system. The Monégasque Football Federation organizes smaller local competitions and takes care of the Monaco national football team, which hasn't played a known match since 2017 and only plays in unofficial games.

Basketball

AS Monaco Basket plays in the EuroLeague, the biggest European club tournament, and in the LNB Élite, the biggest French league. They play their matches in the Salle Gaston Médecin.

Athletics

Stade Louis II is the place where the yearly Diamond League event called Herculis happens, featuring track and field competitions. Monaco is also part of the Monaco Marathon, which is special because it goes through three countries. There is also an Ironman 70.3 triathlon race held here.

The main office of the international governing body for World Athletics is located in Monaco.

Boxing

Because Monaco is a popular place for tourists and entertainment, it has hosted important professional boxing matches, including world title fights. Some famous bouts have included fights between well-known boxers like Carlos Monzon and Nino Benvenuti, as well as other exciting matches such as Davey Moore against Wilfredo Benitez.

Cycling

Monaco has been part of stages in the Tour de France and the 1966 Giro d'Italia.

Rugby

Monaco has a national rugby team that is part of World Rugby. Their last big official match was in 2008, but their rugby sevens team has been more active recently, like in 2022.

Multi-sports events

Monaco is part of the International Olympic Committee and takes part in big competitions like the Olympics, Youth Olympic Games, Mediterranean Games, European Games, and the Games of the Small States of Europe.

Even though Monaco has not won a medal at the Olympic Games yet, they have done well in smaller events. For example, they won a bronze medal in bobsleigh at the 2012 Winter Youth Olympics and have earned five medals, including one gold, in the Mediterranean Games.

Other sports

The Rainier III Nautical Stadium in the Port Hercules district has a big heated swimming pool where people can swim and dive. In the winter months, from December to March, this pool is turned into an ice rink for skating.

Geographical factors

Because Monaco is very small, it often needs help from its neighbor France to hold sports events. For example, the Monte Carlo Rally happens mostly in the southern French Alps. Local football games are usually played in the French village of Cap-d'Ail or at the Stade de Moneghetti in the French town of Beausoleil. The Stade de Moneghetti also had volleyball games during the 2007 Games of the Small States of Europe, which were mostly in Monaco.

The Stade Louis II is the only field in Monaco big enough for proper football and track and field games.

Significant athletes

Monaco has produced many talented athletes. Louis Chiron was a winner of many Grands Prix in the 1930s and raced in Formula One in the 1950s. Charles Leclerc is a Formula One driver who was also a champion in Formula 2. Daniel Elena was a co-driver for Sebastien Loeb, who won the World Rally Championship nine times. Xiaoxin Yang won a gold medal in table tennis at the Mediterranean Games and a silver medal at the European Games.