Quoting its founder, Georges Bertellotti: “The idea of SPORTEL was born in Colorado Springs (USA), October 1987, during the general assembly of GAISF (General Association of International Sports Federations)”.

Thus in 1990, under the High Patronage of His Serene Highness the regretted Prince Rainier III and the Presidency of HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco, SPORTEL was created thanks to the initiative of Georges Bertellotti, a Monegasque journalist and avid sportsman, who served as liaison between the Government and the sports press for more than thirty years.

From the first SPORTEL until his death in 1998, Georges Bertellotti endeavored to include a vast cultural program. Indeed, he strongly believed that Monaco, a privileged location for international sports, should promote a wide spectrum of activities involving various aspects of sports and television. To that end, he developed cultural exhibitions during SPORTEL and created the Golden Podium Awards to honor the athletic artistry found in television sports coverage. In 2001, as a tribute to his vision, the Awards were renamed The Georges Bertellotti Golden Podium Awards.

The organization of a Market devoted exclusively to international sports programming and events crowned the SPORTEL concept.

The invaluable collaboration of Luc Niggli, then Secretary General of GAISF and Gilles Noghès, then Director of the Monaco Tourist and Convention Authority – who also named the event and designed its logo – was crucial for the early development of SPORTEL.

SPORTEL also owes much of its increasing success to Prince Alexandre de Merode, President of SPORTEL. His active involvement in sports over the years and human qualities were much appreciated. (1994–2002) President of SPORTEL (1964–2002) Member of the International Olympic Committee (1967–2002) President of the IOC Medical Commission (1986–1990 / 1994–1998) IOC Vice President

David Tomatis is appointed Executive Vice President of SPORTEL in 1996.

It is under the presidency of Juan Antonio Samaranch in 1997 that the IOC bestowed its official patronage upon SPORTEL.

Since 2002, SPORTEL is part of the Monegasque Association, MONACO MEDIAX, which, under the Honorary Presidency of H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco, organizes the following events:Monte Carlo Television Festival, Imagina, Wima and the Monaco Media Forum.

History is endless and we quote Georges Bertellotti once more:

“…in spite of our efforts, we have not exhausted the multiples facets of this organization …for sport opens to life and life, in order to enrich sport, needs the humility that drives us to constantly challenge our views, achievements and knowledge.”

STAMP COMMEMORATION

This collectable stamp was issued by the “Office des Emissions de Timbres Poste” in Monaco on July 2, 1999, the birthday of SPORTEL founder, Georges Bertellotti, to commemorate the 10th anniversary of SPORTELMonaco.

Depicting the original artwork created in 1991 by the French artist Raymond Moretti (1931-2005) to illustrate every SPORTEL graphic document, this special commemorative stamp celebrates the relationship between sport and television.

Issued with a face value of 10 Francs, the SPORTEL stamp known a great public success, most notably at the annual Philatexpo exhibition in Paris, where it was officially presented.

SPORTEL ANNIVERSARY BOOK

Sportel has decided to celebrate its twentieth birthday with a lively look back over twenty happy years in the Principality of Monaco. With an introduction by His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco and packed with illustrations, the SPORTEL 20 album retraces the rich and varied history of this exceptional and enlightened endeavour, accompanied by dual-language text in French and English.

With accounts of symposiums, different juries, visits from some of the most important sports executives and contemporary stars, as well as awards

ceremonies and studies into the televisual market, each Sportel event from the last twenty years makes a delightful appearance in SPORTEL 20. In short, SPORTEL 20 is an indispensable testament to a twentieth anniversary that will only occur once.