15 February 2014
Cultural and Tourism Cooperation Between Manama and French Riviera City, Nice
Invited by the mayor of Nice, Christian Estrosi, H.E Shaikh Khalid bin Hmood Al Khalifa, Acting Assistant Undersecretary for Tourism, recently visited the French Riviera capital, Nice, to attend the Annual Carnaval de Nice.
H.E Shaikh Khalid Bin Hmood Al-Khalifa, expressed his deep gratitude and thanks to the Nice Municipality’s officials for their interest in cooperating with the Kingdom of Bahrain, which is celebrating its annual Spring of Culture events to start on 27th February 2014 under the guidance of H.E Shaikha Mai Bint Mohammad Al-Khalifa . H.E also reiterated Bahrain’s constant search for new challenges, exposure to new experiences and expertise in order to promote multi-cultural Bahraini society, open to the world and other cultures.
During the opening ceremony, H.E Shaikh Khalid Bin Hmood Al-Khalifa, met with Mr. Rudy Salles, MP, Deputy Mayor to sign a memorandum of understanding between Manama and the city of Nice in the presence French Embassy’s Advisor for Culture and Cooperation Mr. Cedric Devais. The memo would also enhance coordination between all parties concerned in order to devise an action plan to hold diverse functions and projects the year round so as to boost the kingdom’s economy through tourism.
Bahrain’s Acting Assistant Undersecretary for Tourism also had a meeting with Mr. Olivier-Henri SAMBUCCHI, Culture Director at the City Hall, whereby they discussed the possibility of hosting art works of French artist, “ Devey” from the city of Nice to Bahrain, Opera House Orchestra concert in Manama, which celebrating “ our Year of Art” festivities in 2014. The meeting also discussed the possibility of organizing the French week in Bahrain and vice versa, cooperation with regard to world heritage, given that the city of Nice is planning to register one of its archaeological sites on UNESCO World Heritage List.
Worth to mention that since 1876, the French Riviera has erupted in debauchery and colorful parades at the annual Carnaval de Nice. Held each year in February on the Promenade des Anglais in Nice, the Carnival de Nice is a bustling festival featuring fifteen days of fun and parades.
Carnival de Nice is packed with parades both day and night. Over one thousand musicians and dancers take part each year, dancing alongside massive papier-mâché characters. In the traditional Flower Parades, floats covered in floral arrangements cover the streets as marchers toss lilies and gerberas to the crowd. In addition to the parades, Carnival de Nice crowns a new Carnival Queen each year to serve as a cultural ambassador for Nice.
