Historical Hockey and Sports Memorabilia Auction Spring 2025
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/29/2025
Worn by royalty at the opening ceremony of the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, we present Albert II, Prince of Monaco's jacket. The son of Prince Rainier III and Princess Grace Kelly, Albert Alexandre Louis Pierre Grimaldi was born at the Prince's Palace of Monaco in March of 1958, and he has ruled the Principality of Monaco since 2005. This jacket worn by his royal highness at the opening ceremony, was traded to our consignor, press communications specialist and former press chief Sylvie Bigras. Solid black with red and white stripes across the midsection, the Grimaldi family crest is embroidered to a shield-shaped patch sewn to the left breast, with "Monaco" beneath. There is an MDN Paris label to the collar along with European "5" sizing. There is just light wear to the historic garment, and it remains in like-new condition. The photo on this listing shows the prince wearing this jacket at the opening ceremonies. From Bigras' personal collection, an LOA from Classic Auctions will accompany.
The passion for sports was engrained in Sylvie Bigras from a very young age and being on the court for volleyball and basketball was akin to a second home. A founding member of the inaugural University of Ottawa's women's volleyball program in 1977-78, Bigras was instrumental for that program being recognized as an official varsity team. Giving back to the sport she was always passionate about, she later worked in the Ontario Volleyball Association for athlete development and high performance, and in 1980, was a member of the national silver medal winning team in her last of three years in Garnet and Grey. The players and coaches credit her with being the key factor in establishing the program as an official university team. Since her time at uOttawa, where she earned a Masters in Sport Management, Sylvie has continued to be a builder in Canadian sport. A long-time Executive Director of Volleyball Canada, Bigras was also the Press Chief for the 2008 and 2010 Canadian Olympic Teams as well as for Canada at the Glasgow 2014 and Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games. She has worked thus far at 16 Olympic Games, 4 Commonwealth Games and 5 Pan American Games, while also working on communications planning for Team Canada at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. Bigras is currently a senior communications specialist at the Canadian Olympic Committee and a member of the Board of Governors for Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame. Additionally, she has hosted national sport celebrations such as Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame Induction ceremonies, the Canadian Sport Awards and more, as well as a number of major events including the Nelson Mandela Citizenship Ceremony, and State Dinners for George W. Bush, Vicente Fox Quesada, Prince Charles and other dignitaries.
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