Monaco, a long tradition of sport

1897: the first tennis tournament

The first edition of the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters dates back to the very end of the 19th century. At the time, the tournament was played on the Monte-Carlo Lawn Tennis courts, not far from the Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo. The event mainly brought together the elite of British and American tennis. In 1905, the expansion of the neighbouring Hôtel Hermitage Monte-Carlo forced the tournament to move to the La Condamine district, before being played on the roof of a garage in Beausoleil in the late 1920s. George Pierce Butler, a wealthy American who had made his fortune in cigarettes, wanted the best possible setting to host champions of the calibre of René Lacoste or Suzanne Lenglen. So he convinced Prince Louis II to create a club worthy of the name. The Monte-Carlo Country Club was created in 1928, in an exceptional setting overlooking the Mediterranean. Since then, the tournament has gone from strength to strength, welcoming nearly 150,000 spectators in April 2025.

1911: the first rally

The first rallies in Monaco were held on bicycles. In 1890, Prince Albert I became honorary president of the Sport Vélocipédique Monégasque. The club evolved in 1907 to include motor sport. Two years later, Alexandre and Antony Noghès - father and son - played a key role in organising the first Monte-Carlo Rally. The race was modelled on the Italian cycle races of the time, and the route was a "concentration" route. The 23 drivers who took part in this first edition travelled from the four corners of Europe to the Principality! But to win in 1911, it wasn't enough to drive fast, you also had to look good. The elegance of the car was taken into account, as was that of the driver... right down to the chic of the luggage. The average speed of Henri Rougier, the first winner? 13.8 km/h. Today, the Rallye Automobile Monte-Carlo occupies a prominent place in the calendar and is the inaugural round of the World Rally Championship in January. The thousands of spectators who flock to the Principality's roads and inland passes, not to mention the millions of television viewers around the world, have helped to make this event a must-see sporting event.

1920: first participation in the Olympic Games

Monaco's first participation in the Summer Olympics dates back to 1920, in athletics and gymnastics. The Principality can even boast a bronze medal in... architecture, thanks to Julien Médecin and his design for the Fontvieille stadium. These artistic medals are no longer included in the official Olympic count. But Monaco's finest Olympic performances can be found at the Winter Olympics. Prince Albert II took part in five Olympics from 1988 to 2002 in bobsleigh. A discipline that has smiled on the Principality, with Rudy Rinaldi and Boris Vain taking ^6th place in 2022. A forerunner, Monaco also hosted the women's Olympics between 1921 and 1923, below the Casino de Monte-Carlo.

1924: AS Monaco Football takes its first steps

Football has been a fixture in Monaco since the early 20th century. In 1903, Herculis Monaco was founded and, in 1917, competed in the very first Coupe de France. But it was after the Great War that the adventure really began. AS Monaco Football was officially founded in 1919, but it was not until five years later that the omnisports company to which the footballers now belonged was created. On 23 August 2024, the diagonal club celebrated its centenary. An historic figure in the French league, AS Monaco is one of the most regular and successful clubs in France, and one of the country's best training clubs. From national successes to memorable European evenings, AS Monaco has won over a large community of supporters across France.

1929: the first Monaco Grand Prix

Narrow streets, tram tracks, cobblestones and even steps to climb: the Principality was not predestined to host a motor race... And yet! But Antony Noghès was determined and had a vision. He set about designing an original route, inspired by American urban races. Louis Chiron, the famous Monegasque racing driver, was more than won over by the route. The project convinced Prince Louis II, who gave his unwavering support. Thus was born the very first Monaco Grand Prix on 14 April 1929. After seeing Prince Pierre complete the formation lap at the wheel of a Voisin Torpedo, 16 drivers took to the starting grid. British driver William Grover-Williams won the race after 100 laps at an average speed of 80 km/h. Since then, the race has continued to fascinate motor sport fans and laymen alike. Graham Hill, Alain Prost, Ayrton Senna, Michael Schumacher... so many legendary drivers who have triumphed in the heart of the streets of Monaco.