cafebabel.com

Roller hockey, tennis and basket ball wins: golden age for Spanish sport

('Silvia Alexe',) — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 16:55:25 -0000

Not everything is in crisis in Spain. Football, basketball, tennis and even roller hockey: Spanish sport seems to be experiencing a golden age

Barcelona extends football school to Warsaw

('Annie Rutherford',) — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 14:45:00 -0000

A year away from the 2012 European football championships in Poland and Ukraine, Warsaw’s city sports director has convinced the football club Barcelona to open the club’s first European football school outside Spain. Young Polish talent will train at the ‘FCB Escola Varsovia’ from the end of October. Barcelona is giving the Poles the ‘know how’ but not the money

Post-World Cup guide to language of European rugby

('ZoeBBee',) — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 18:10:57 -0000

On 23 October, France lost to New Zealand at Auckland’s eden park. At the rugby world cup final, France had the 'all blacks' seriously worried, with just a point in it. If you’d have liked a European victory, this little article is your consolation prize: a chance to become multi-rugby-lingual

Football: a poor man's sport? Not for Qatar

('Monica Mircescu',) — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 10:12:49 -0000

The Qataris now own football club Paris Saint-Germain and have spared no expense in their attempt to turn the team into a crown jewel. But of whose crown: Sarkozy's kingdom or the Qatari emirate? What prompted these billionaire sheikhs to invest in Europe?

Balkan basketball: Macedonia honour and no 'hate thy neighbour' syndrome

('shadow',) — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 17:30:00 -0000

In 1991 SFR Yugoslavia won the 'Eurobasket' gold medal and ended its existence as the second most successful country in basketball championships (after the soviet union). Twenty years on, all of Yugoslavia's ex-republic national teams have met for the first time at the same event. The riveting European basketball championships have reunited a region and end in Vilnius on 18 September

Malmo, London, Berlin, Glasgow: roller girls derby in Europe

('Annie Rutherford',) — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 12:01:18 -0000

Cat fights on wheels? Or a sport to be taken seriously? In the run up to the first ever ‘roller derby’ world championships in Toronto in early December, the women’s team sport on wheels brought to the big screen in Drew Barrymore’s directorial debut ‘Whip It’ (2009) has been steadily sweeping through Europe. To mark the film's release in Germany, a German roller girl gets on the case

Freeday: beer vs bikes through Athens on Fridays

('Ulrik Borch',) — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 16:03:59 -0000

Every Friday at Asomaton Square in the heart of Athens, not far from the Acropolis, up to two or three thousand cyclists go for a solid ride starting at 10 pm and usually finishing around 3 in the morning. Tonight the destination is the small town of Hassia, 25 km north of Athens on the Parnitha mountain

Being a Beşiktaş football supporter in Istanbul

('English language version of cafebabel.com',) — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 13:00:00 -0000

There are three big football teams in Istanbul: the aristocratic Galatasaray, the Asian Fenerbahçe and the self-proclaimed ‘people’s team (‘halk takim’), Beşiktaş. The fans of the latter are known to be politically active. The Beşiktaşli, as they are called, stand up for social progress and football integrity

European sport gay-rometer: spanning the fear

('English language version of cafebabel.com',) — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 16:00:00 -0000

Twelve years after the death of gay British black footballer Justin Fashanu, who committed suicide at the age of 37, homosexuality in sports is still a taboo. European case studies from the no-go area of football to the changing image of rugby and gay-friendly status of tennis

Interview with psychic Paul, the German octopus

('English language version of cafebabel.com',) — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 16:15:00 -0000

A slew of tanned, ageing football commentators aside, he was the only one to correctly predict Spain's glory and Germany's shock defeat at the 2010 world cup. He's also an octopus, hatched in 2008, who lives at the Oberhausen aquarium in a North Rhine-Westphalia zoo. Three questions for the eight-armed prophet

Euro 2012 in Warsaw: hanging around the stadium

('Emilie Prattico',) — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 16:00:28 -0000

The UEFA football championship kicks off in Warsaw’s brand new national stadium on 8 June 2012. While it prepares to host over 100, 000 fans and tourists, the Polish capital is abuzz with excitement about revealing how far it’s come to the rest of the world

Uruguay vs Europe: what world cup identity?

('Nabeelah Shabbir',) — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 18:41:44 -0000

28 countries out, four left. Uruguay aside, the football championship final will definitely feature either Germany or Spain, one of whom could be facing the Netherlands to contend for a title currently held by Italy. It's not about football anymore though – does this bridge a stronger European identity for those of us on the continent, supporters or not?

Porn, drugs and Domenech: a Eurovision of World Cup songs

('English language version of cafebabel.com',) — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 18:29:04 -0000

As the World Cup moves into the next phase – sixteen of the best battle it out for the second round from 26 June – we follow the 2010-featuring European teams in song. Spain, Holland and Germany are EU favourites as runners-up on 11 July, with Brazil or Argentina to win, according to betting agencies

Young African footballers thrive in Europe

('Nicola Potter',) — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 10:30:00 -0000

There may be football academies and Fifa regulations aplenty in Europe, but talented African minors haven't always had the best experiences in the promised land

Ban bullfighting in Catalonia

('Louis',) — Fri, 21 May 2010 18:30:00 -0000

It’s a briskly warm spring afternoon in Barcelona and blood is shed for the first time this year in the grand Monumental arena to the cheers of willing fans. Brilliantly shimmering sequins sparkle on the skin-tight suit of a proud Torero as he marks the beginning of yet another season of bloodshed

Rock climbing Europe: discovering El Chorro in Spain

Tue, 26 Jan 2010 11:00:00 -0000

Every winter, rock climbers from across northern Europe arrange to meet in southern Spain to tackle one of this season’s biggest challenges. El Chorro is a limestone gorge hippy haven and small island of green in the Andalusian desert

Peddling for votes; cycle across Ireland for Lisbon treaty

("naomi o'leary",) — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 10:00:00 -0000

A group of cyclists from around Europe are embarking on a tour of the Irish countryside to demonstrate for a higher voter turnout ahead of the 2 October Lisbon referendum. Organiser Grace Cox enthuses about the ‘yes’ movement that’s gathering speed - and even Ryanair are getting on board

Blow by blow: Irish sky over Six Nations rugby

('Alexandra Baxter',) — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 15:25:23 -0000

On 21 March, a tenth Six Nations final was dominated by the Celts: Ireland and Wales are through. Italy and England have been knocked out of the race, while France and Scotland are relegated

Speed-skating in Holland: Elfstedentocht threatened by climate change

('Arno van der Zwet',) — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 12:34:46 -0000

The ‘Journey of Eleven Cities’ is 200 kilometres of speed skating over the frozen canals and lakes in Friesland, a province in the north of the Netherlands. Up to 15, 000 lucky (amateur) souls take the challenge on - if it happens. 2009 marks its centenary - so bring a warm jumper and a bottle of booze (+40%) to keep you warm

Ski in Poland: cheap and multilingual

('Andrew Christie',) — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 12:00:00 -0000

Along with the winter health spas Zakopane and Szczyrk, Zieleniec in the Sudetenland is one of Poland’s best-known winter sports centres. For many foreign skiers, lower prices make it a more attractive winter holiday destination than the Alps or the Dolomites

What is the 'EuroMillions' pan-European lottery draw?

('rhiannon_nicolson',) — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 12:46:21 -0000

200 million Europeans in nine different countries have the chance to become rich thanks to a lottery which celebrated its fifth birthday on 13 February 2009

2-0 in Spain-England friendly friendly, but who is more racist?

('Chriomford',) — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 17:00:00 -0000

Spanish racism or Spanish humour? Slitty eyed gestures - is it something the Brits fail to get? Anglo-Spanish relations are far from perfect: accusations, aggression and insults fly in both directions. Even before kick-off the bad press Spain has received affected the friendly between England and Spain on 11 February

Vito Kolelishvili: rugby player on 'unpaid managers and sportsmen' in Georgia

('Nino Gogua',) — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 15:42:15 -0000

In 2004, Vito Kolelishvili became a professional rugby player with Lelos, the national rugby union team. At 19, he is one of the few rugby players nominated ‘best player of 2008’, shortly after the Georgian national tournament ended. Interview

Rugby: an equal opportunity sport?

Tue, 10 Feb 2009 14:38:27 -0000

‘Rugby is a wonderful show: dance, opera and, suddenly, the blood of a killing,’ actor Richard Burton once said. Ordered chaos, rule-ridden – or rather ‘laws’, according to the jargon – but also with tackles, scrums, and ferocious tries, rugby is savagery bound in an iron-clad ethic

Who are the Six Nations in this rugby tournament?

('Helen Moorhouse',) — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 12:00:00 -0000

The big favourite of the oldest rugby competition in the world, Wales, won last year. In 2009, France, England and Ireland are the outsiders whilst Scotland and Italy will try to bring home at least one victory and avoid the ‘wooden spoon’ prize. The competition ends on 21 March

Too much football, not enough rugby in Italy

('Michelle Williams',) — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 05:15:00 -0000

The ancient Latin culture is in the DNA of rugby. In the past it was called 'harpastum' and the Romans used to play it in order to keep fit during the harsh winters of the military campaigns in Gaul. It was very much a niche sport with definite ethics

Brazil vs. Italy and ex-terrorist Battisti: will politics meet football in London?

('Gemma Turner',) — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 10:30:00 -0000

From the front pages to the football pitch. After the controversy surrounding the Italian former terrorist Cesare Battisti, previously a member of the Armed Proletarians for Communism, a political refugee in Brazil, the two countries involved now face each other on the pitch. Two journalists from either side of the Atlantic answer our questions

Football: Iran vs Basque ‘Selección de Euskadi’ or Basque ‘Euskal Herria’?

('Andrew Christie',) — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 11:07:08 -0000

The traditional Christmas fixture takes place on 23 December, but which name will the Basques play under? Nationalism, politics and differing takes on history mix with polemic views in a time of sporting crisis

F1, Premier League football and London Olympics hit by crisis

('Tuesday Gutierrez',) — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 17:00:08 -0000

Whilst the NBA acts coolly across the Atlantic, it’s getting a bit hot under the collar in Europe’s traditional sporting industries and upcoming event. Overview

Why boo the French national anthem at a football stadium?

('Sarah Truesdale',) — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 10:27:03 -0000

Will revolution soon hit the grandstands of France? After the Marseillaise was booed during a match against Tunisia in October, several politicians expressed their rage. It's a problem which says a lot about society in general

'If poker is a sport, why do I have this stomach?'

('Annika Thornton',) — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 11:35:02 -0000

Technique, strategy, maths, patience and more than a bit of luck: these are the ingredients necessary to qualify for the final table at the World Series of Poker Championships on 9 November. With nine million dollars up for grabs, Denmark’s Peter Eastgate is the only European representative for this debatable sport

Bandy – ice hockey in Sweden goes big in Europe

('Waldemar Ingdahl',) — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 15:15:02 -0000

Played in more than twenty-one countries, bandy is a tale of globalisation, cultures opening up to change and making their distinct mark on the phenomenon before passing it on to the likes of Italy and Hungary. The new season kicks off on 7 November

Photos: parkour from Paris to Rome

('Nabeelah Shabbir',) — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 07:15:00 -0000

The urban discipline, created by Frenchman David Belle in the nineties, is growing as fast as its exponents are springing over Europe’s city railings. Images taken in the Tor Bella Monaca district in Rome, during the second national Parkour.it rally

Nawal El Moutawakel: ‘girls think that sport is a macho world’

('Helen Swain',) — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 11:01:41 -0000

The former Moroccan women's track hurdler and current youth and sports minister says nobody wants to change. Interview

Poland to salvage chances of hosting Euro 2012

('Sarah Pybus',) — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 12:00:00 -0000

With Grzegorz Lato elected the new director of the Polish football association, the government has an eye out on combatting corruption in the upcomign games and troubled co-host Ukraine

Videos: Europe's sports stars grapple with foreign languages

('Nabeelah Shabbir',) — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:30:00 -0000

When professional players have to move around, they are often forced to adapt to other countries, their cultures and languages in too short a time. Watch four of the best, including Lother Matthaeus, Sebastian Chabal, Giovanni Trapattoni and the late Jesus Gil

Sweden: Allsvenskan, the last football amateurs

('Waldemar Ingdahl',) — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 15:41:14 -0000

As Europe's footie season kicks off in September, Sweden's premier league winds down

Josefa Idem wins Olympic silver for canoe

('Marco Riciputi',) — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 10:30:00 -0000

The East German-born canoer, 42, and sporty mum-of-two won for Italy at the Olympic Games in Beijing 2008, after a string of international successes in LA, Seoul, Atlanta, Sydney and Athens

Beijing 2008: 273 Olympic medals for the EU

('Andrew Burgess',) — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 09:15:00 -0000

An Austrian commission representative has remarked that an 'EU medals table' would 'conserve EU identity' - latest update of the medals the old continent has won, against China, Russia and the US

China, superstition and sport – from monastery to NBA

('Mary Maistrello',) — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 19:15:26 -0000

In this giant Asian country, even sport needs a less bureaucratic and more open model in order to be more competitive

Hosting the Olympics won't improve your life

('Catherine Neilan',) — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 16:30:50 -0000

Enthusiastic as preparations may appear on the world stage, the positive economic and human rights impact of the August Olympic Games will be minimal in China

Frankfurt - Beijing: getting German Olympic rowers to China

('Nabeelah Shabbir',) — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 16:00:08 -0000

Organising the transport of boats and beer from Germany to far-off China could be considered an Olympic challenge in itself

Homophobia in the Olympic games: ‘deaf discrimination’

('Nabeelah Shabbir',) — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 10:30:00 -0000

The co-founder of ‘Eurogames 2008’ in Barcelona and a member of Hong Kong gay forum 'Horizons' provide a European-Chinese perspective on the gay community in sport, ahead of the Olympics on 8 August

Maurizio Crosetti: ‘Using English words in Italian is a basic lack of respect’

('Mary Maistrello',) — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 12:47:14 -0000

The Turin-born sports journalist at national daily 'La Repubblica', 46, on how Europe has changed Italian journalism and a ‘provincial’ tendency to use so many English terms

Sport in August: more than football or Olympics

('Matthew Pagett',) — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 17:11:09 -0000

Skate, cycle, marathon and surf – sport crosses Europe’s alps, streets and waves this summer. Monthly event guide

Football: more local players

('David Robinson',) — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 15:07:54 -0000

On 30 May FIFA passed a resolution requiring clubs to have at least six national players on the pitch at the start of a match. There has been an outcry from MEPs in defence of the freedom of movement of workers

Euro 2008 semi-final: Spain vs rising Russians

('Nabeelah Shabbir',) — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 12:00:00 -0000

On 26 June Russia square up to Spain in the second Euro 2008 semi-final, after Germany kicked Turkey out in Vienna the night before. How did Russia become European favourites?

Videos: soundtrack to Euro 2008

('Erin Woycik',) — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 07:08:43 -0000

A party is nowt without music, so Euro2008 shouldn’t go without! The creation of music is a powerful tool to encourage teams and ensure a good time is had all year round

€uro 2008, a global currency

('Akli Hadid',) — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 06:21:44 -0000

Euro 2004 was a huge commercial success, grossing 760 million euros in income. What are the prospects for Euro 2008, whose over one million tickets have already been sold?

Football in Poland is more corrupt than in Italy

('Sarah Pybus',) — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 03:11:46 -0000

In the run up to Euro 2008, a corruption scandal has come to light in the Polish league that rivals anything Italy has to offer. 29 clubs have already been caught up in the scandal, and 116 people implicated