Photo credits: Direction de la Communication / Philippe Fitte
A poignant tribute unfolded on Saturday at the Stade Louis II, where Princess Charlene of Monaco presided over a ceremony honoring the late Mireille Calmes, a founding president of Special Olympics Monaco. Held in the presence of State Minister Christophe Mirmand, Pierre Van Klaveren, president of Special Olympics Monaco, and Jean-François Calmes, along with his son, the event celebrated Calmes’s decades-long dedication to inclusion through sports.
From 1984 to 2018, Calmes led Special Olympics Monaco, establishing the principality as one of the first European nations to join the Special Olympics movement, alongside Belgium and Ireland. For over 40 years, Monaco’s athletes have proudly represented the country in international competitions, embodying values of solidarity, determination, and personal growth - principles cherished by Princess Charlene and central to her personal commitment.
Photo credits: Direction de la Communication / Philippe Fitte
The ceremony, deeply moving for the numerous athletes gathered to honor an exceptional woman, saw the gymnasium of Stade Louis II renamed in Calmes’s name. This gesture acknowledges her exemplary contribution to the community. The event underscored Monaco’s enduring support for athletes with intellectual disabilities, a mission Calmes championed with unwavering resolve.