Updated on July 14, 2025
Following Sofia in 2024, Monaco was named World Capital of Sport 2025 at the beginning of the year. This was no mere honorary title for the Principality, which for decades has embodied an ambitious vision of sport, combining a tradition of excellence, a global sensibility and a dedication to sustainability. In Monaco, sport is as much a way of life as it is a lever for the future.
Monaco, World Capital of Sport
Awarded by the Association of European Sport Capitals and Cities (ACES Europe), this title merely confirms a reality that is deeply rooted in Monegasque history. Sport is not just for entertainment or for show here: it is a cultural bedrock, patiently shaped by a passion for challenge, hard work and shared well-being. For more than a century, the Principality has combined sporting achievements, innovation, openness and transgenerational values within its narrow confines. It is a subtle alchemy, driven by a demanding vision in which every lever—infrastructure, health, education, performance, accessibility—is part of the same sustainable dynamic.
Sport in Monaco: a long history
Monaco is an athletic city by nature and by vocation. Nestled against the mountains and facing the Mediterranean, the Principality has been built in a setting that, beyond its contemplative nature, is an invitation to outdo oneself. This spectacular terrain between sea and sky inspires, stimulates and invites you to reach ever higher. In Monaco, hard work is second nature and performance something to be enjoyed on a daily basis.
This passion for sport and culture of commitment are embodied no less than by the princely family itself. From H.S.H. Prince Rainier III, a keen motor sports fan, to his son H.S.H. Prince Albert II, a former bobsleigh Olympian and ardent supporter of ‘sport for all’, as well as H.S.H. Princess Charlène, a top-level swimmer at the Atlanta Olympics under the South African flag, the athletic spirit is everywhere in the Principality. It’s a legacy that goes all the way back to Jack Kelly, the Prince’s maternal grandfather and an Olympic rowing champion in 1920 and 1924.
A collective commitment to sport
It’s hardly surprising, then, that sport has infiltrated every aspect of Monegasque life. On the heights of the city, along the quays of Port Hercule, in schools and clubs: everywhere you go you’ll find people honing their craft and sharpening their skills in multiple athletic disciplines. With more than 50 sports represented, a collection of high-quality facilities—from the Stade Louis II to municipal complexes—and a very active network of associations, athletics is an integral part of everyday life in Monaco. From young athletes to Sunday amateurs, everything in Monaco works together to make sport a shared culture and a common language—a living link between generations and their country.
This dynamism is no accident, but is underpinned by a resolute, long-standing policy of supporting and facilitating access to amateur sport, promoting sport in schools and raising awareness of its educational, social and health benefits. A discreet but consistent strategy, driven by a shared vision of sport that is inclusive, nurturing and forward-looking.
High-level sports in Monaco
On this shared foundation, Monaco is also developing a high-level scene jam-packed with events, boasting high-quality facilities and a variety of flagship sports:
- With AS Monaco, football remains one of the emblems of an athletic and competitive Principality. Eight-time French champions, Champions League finalists in 2004 and semi-finalists in 2017, ASM has seen the emergence of some of the biggest names in world football—from Thierry Henry to Kylian Mbappé.
- Basketball, led by the incomparable AS Monaco Basket, is now shining on the European stage. Its meteoric rise in the EuroLeague is as much testament to the rigour of the initiative as it is to the growing reputation of Mike James’ Roca Team. This will further strengthen the position of team sport in Monaco, while at the same time injecting a new level of popular enthusiasm.
- Every summer, the Herculis EBS meeting, a prestigious phase in the Diamond League, brings together the world’s athletics elite on the track at the Stade Louis II.
- On the water, the Monaco Yacht Club‘s major regattas are a showcase for the Principality’s nautical excellence.
Reflecting this excellence at the highest level, the Monegasque calendar features some of the world’s greatest sport highlights every year:
- The Monte-Carlo Rally, the traditional curtain-raiser to the WRC Championship, brings together the most seasoned drivers in January along a route that is as spectacular as it is demanding.
- Other driving champions can be found at another challenge in May: the Monaco Grand Prix, the inevitable pinnacle of Formula 1. A legendary race in the heart of the city that also includes a historic Grand Prix and an e-Prix.
- Every spring, the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters, a key event in world tennis, attracts the stars of the circuit to a setting as prestigious as it is spectacular.
- The Monte-Carlo International Show Jumping competition, a showcase for the equestrian elite, brings together the world’s best riders and horses at the beginning of the summer on the Port Hercule, at the foot of the Prince’s Palace.
With each passing season, Monaco confirms its status as the epicentre of athletic excellence, combining tradition and modernity.
An athletic and sustainable way of life
What sets Monaco apart is its unique ability to turn sport into a true way of life, going beyond mere showings and finishes. In the Principality, commitment to sport is based on a subtle blend of passion, rigour and collective awareness.
Reflecting this commitment, its environmentally friendly facilities incorporate strict eco-construction criteria. The events take care to limit their carbon footprint, while the educational programmes pass on the values of responsible sport from an early age.
In the year 2025, Monaco has become the epitome of a European Capital of Sport, one that is confident in its strength, aware of its uniqueness, ambitious and respectful—both of the effort involved and of the environment. A land of sport, shared passion and sustainable vision.
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