Radio România Internațional

Tag: Glinta

  • David Popovici, Romania’s new hero

    David Popovici, Romania’s new hero

    Red carpet, officials and fans, lots of flowers, smiles, hugs and speeches – that was the atmosphere on Sunday night, when the Romanian delegation returned from the World Aquatics Championships in Budapest. The man who stole the show was the 17-year-old David Popovici, who made history in Budapest. At his first debut in suchlike events he was the first in the past 49 years to have become world champion in the 100 and 200-meter freestyle races. In Budapest, Popovici has also set two new world records for junior competitions. His team mate, Robert Glinta, has occupied the fifth position in the 50-meter backstroke race coming eighth in the 100-meter backstroke event. The double world champion has thanked all the fans for supporting him and confessed that he wants his performance to inspire many people to take up sports.



    David Popovici: “I would like to thank all those who believed in me, who have been supporting me and would also like to thank all the Romanians who were thrilled to watch my race on telly, to all those who came in person to watch me. It was superb in Budapest and I know that many would like to be in my place knowing they have the support of so many people. I am sincerely honored to represent this beautiful country and feel you are by my side.”


    David Popovici received 200,000 Euros worth of prize from the Romanian government, while president Klaus Iohannis decided to award the double world champion with the highest national order, Romanian Star in rank of knight and coach Adrian Radulescu with the national order of Merit in rank of knight.



    David is the model and hes going to motivate the entire country. We have the duty to build swimming pools, encourage this sport so that we may have many champions,” Sports Minister Eduard Novak has said. “The Romanian sport is in need of many things and the World Championships in Budapest should stimulate the government to invest in infrastructure” – says Camelia Potec, president of the Federation of Swimming and Modern Pentathlon.



    The opinion is shared by many who have repeatedly pointed to the shortage of funds in several sporting disciplines which led to weaker and weaker results in international competitions, where athletes from Romania used to be a force to be reckoned with. Even the world champion David Popovici himself said quote: ʺHopefully, the wave I have created will help the Romanian sport to make headway, because it clearly can do with a little bit of resuscitation.” This is a busy period for David who will next participate in the European Junior Championships in Romania, due over July 5 and 10, the European Championships in Italy and the World Junior Championships in Peru.


    (bill)

  • June 25, 2022 UPDATE

    June 25, 2022 UPDATE

    UKRAINE Scores of
    Russian rockets on Saturday rained down on military targets in western and
    northern Ukraine, Reuters and AFP report. According to the governor of the Lviv
    region, six missiles were fired from the Black Sea at the Yavoriv base, with
    four hitting the base and two being intercepted and destroyed before hitting
    the targets. The governor of the Zhytomyr region in the north of the country
    said that strikes on a military objective in the area killed at least one
    soldier. In the northern region of Chernihiv, governor Vyacheslav Chaus said
    that the town of Desna had come under rocket strikes on Saturday morning.
    Ukrainian forces were forced to pull out of Severdonetsk after weeks of heavy
    fighting. According to sources with the Ukrainian army, Russia used the
    airspace of Belarus to hit targets in Ukraine.








    FINA Romanian swimmer Robert Glinta came fourth in the finals of the 50
    meters backstroke race of the FINA World Aquatics Championships in Budapest.
    Last night Glinta came sixth in the 100 meter backstroke event. Another
    Romanian, David Popvici, double champion in the 100 and 200 meters freestyle
    races, is to be awarded by Romanian president Klaus Iohannis the Star of
    Romania national order in rank of knight.






    SUMMIT Romanian president
    Klaus Iohannis has attended the European Council in Brussels during which the
    Republic of Moldova and Ukraine have been granted the status of EU-candidate
    countries. The European leaders have also tackled the ways in which the EU members
    can avoid a major energy crisis in winter. High on the summit agenda was the
    situation in Ukraine, the bloc’s relation with the Western Balkans as well as a
    series of economic issues. Iohannis has reiterated Romania’s consistent support
    for Kiev and presented the efforts to facilitate the exports of Ukrainian
    cereals adding that Romania’s ports and transport corridors are functioning at
    full capacity. During the Euro summit in Brussels, president Iohannis has
    reiterated his conviction for the European future of the countries in the
    Western Balkans and the support for the opening as soon as possible of the
    talks with North Macedonia and Albania and the identification of solutions for
    the process of bringing Bosnia-Herzegovina closer to the union.






    ATTACK The alleged
    assailant on Friday night in Oslo is a Norwegian citizen of Iranian origin who
    is known to the intelligence services, a police official said on Saturday. He
    didn’t reveal the identity of the suspect, but mentioned the assailant’s previous
    brushes with the law for carrying weapons and drug possession. The attack in
    downtown Oslo left two dead and 21 wounded, out of whom 10 severely. According
    to police sources, the suspect was being held on suspicion of murder, attempted
    murder and terrorism, based on the number of people targeted at multiple
    locations.








    NATO At the NATO summit in
    Madrid next week, the Black Sea region will be acknowledged as having a
    strategic importance in the collective defence and battle groups in Romania and
    other eastern countries could be given the status of brigades. The alliance’s
    deputy secretary general, Mircea Geoana said the summit would bring good news
    for Romania, but also for Ukraine for the transatlantic relation and the
    alliance per se. ‘From the military and security viewpoints’, Geoana says ‘and
    because Russia is an unpredictable and aggressive player, Romania will have the
    same quality in terms of national security as Germany and Belgium. There will
    be no difference in what NATO has on the eastern flank and in Western Europe.
    Next week we are going to attend the NATO summit in Madrid and we are expecting
    historic news for Romania’. The talks in Madrid will also be focusing on the
    requests from Finland and Sweden to join the alliance, although no decision is
    expected in this respect because of Turkey’s opposition.










    FESTIVAL Until July 3rd, the city of Sibiu in central Romania is
    seeing the International Theatre Festival currently at its 29th
    edition. The festival, which is unfolding under a theme simply entitled
    Beauty, includes productions of theatre, dance, circus, film, musical and
    opera. Street performances, concerts, book launches and exhibitions have also
    been included in the festival’s agenda. For ten days artists of the world stage
    are offering the public the possibility of enjoying live performances that have
    been acknowledged at international level being also recipients of prestigious
    awards.




    (bill)

  • Sports roundup

    Sports roundup

    Brazilian
    tennis player Beatriz Haddad Maia has won the WTA tournament in Birmingham with
    251,750 dollars in prize money. In the finals Haddad Maia defeated Shuai Zhang 5-4,
    after the Chinese had abandoned the game. Hadad Maia had secured a 6-3, 2-6,
    6-4, win against Romanian Simona Halep in the semis while Zhang had also
    defeated another Romanian, Sorana Cârstea, 4-6, 6-1, 7-6.

    Romanian
    swimmers Robert Glinta and David Popovici have qualified for the finals of the World
    Swimming Championship in Budapest. Glință has qualified for the finals of the 100-meter
    backstroke race while Popovici, who is at his first participation in the
    aforementioned competition, has qualified for the finals of the 200-meter
    freestyle race with the best time also setting a record for junior contests of
    one minute, 44 seconds and 40 hundredths.




    Romanians Razvan Ursachi and Iulian Teodosiu have ranked fifth and sixth
    respectively in the individual sabre contest of the European Fencing
    Championships in Antalya, Turkey. In the quarterfinals, Ursachi lost to Sandro
    Bazadze of Georgia 15-8 while Teodosiu also lost the quarters to Bolade Apithy
    of France 15-10.




    Another two Romanians, George Dragomir and Codrin Cozmuleanu came 24th
    and 31st respectively. While on Friday in the women’s foil event Emilia
    Corbu and Mălina Călugăreanu of Romania came 28th and 32nd
    respectively.




    Romania’s football selection has conceded a 2-1 defeat to Italy in its
    first game of the European Under-21 Championship. In the other game of the
    group, France secured a 5-0 win against Slovakia. Romania will next play France.
    The first two sides in every group will
    qualify for the semifinals and the World Cup due in Indonesia next year. Sides ranking third will go into the playoffs
    for a fifth European place at the World Cup.


    (bill)

  • Sports roundup

    Sports roundup

    Brazilian
    tennis player Beatriz Haddad Maia has won the WTA tournament in Birmingham with
    251,750 dollars in prize money. In the finals Haddad Maia defeated Shuai Zhang 5-4,
    after the Chinese had abandoned the game. Hadad Maia had secured a 6-3, 2-6,
    6-4, win against Romanian Simona Halep in the semis while Zhang had also
    defeated another Romanian, Sorana Cârstea, 4-6, 6-1, 7-6.

    Romanian
    swimmers Robert Glinta and David Popovici have qualified for the finals of the World
    Swimming Championship in Budapest. Glință has qualified for the finals of the 100-meter
    backstroke race while Popovici, who is at his first participation in the
    aforementioned competition, has qualified for the finals of the 200-meter
    freestyle race with the best time also setting a record for junior contests of
    one minute, 44 seconds and 40 hundredths.




    Romanians Razvan Ursachi and Iulian Teodosiu have ranked fifth and sixth
    respectively in the individual sabre contest of the European Fencing
    Championships in Antalya, Turkey. In the quarterfinals, Ursachi lost to Sandro
    Bazadze of Georgia 15-8 while Teodosiu also lost the quarters to Bolade Apithy
    of France 15-10.




    Another two Romanians, George Dragomir and Codrin Cozmuleanu came 24th
    and 31st respectively. While on Friday in the women’s foil event Emilia
    Corbu and Mălina Călugăreanu of Romania came 28th and 32nd
    respectively.




    Romania’s football selection has conceded a 2-1 defeat to Italy in its
    first game of the European Under-21 Championship. In the other game of the
    group, France secured a 5-0 win against Slovakia. Romania will next play France.
    The first two sides in every group will
    qualify for the semifinals and the World Cup due in Indonesia next year. Sides ranking third will go into the playoffs
    for a fifth European place at the World Cup.


    (bill)

  • Sports roundup

    Sports roundup

    Brazilian
    tennis player Beatriz Haddad Maia has won the WTA tournament in Birmingham with
    251,750 dollars in prize money. In the finals Haddad Maia defeated Shuai Zhang 5-4,
    after the Chinese had abandoned the game. Hadad Maia had secured a 6-3, 2-6,
    6-4, win against Romanian Simona Halep in the semis while Zhang had also
    defeated another Romanian, Sorana Cârstea, 4-6, 6-1, 7-6.

    Romanian
    swimmers Robert Glinta and David Popovici have qualified for the finals of the World
    Swimming Championship in Budapest. Glință has qualified for the finals of the 100-meter
    backstroke race while Popovici, who is at his first participation in the
    aforementioned competition, has qualified for the finals of the 200-meter
    freestyle race with the best time also setting a record for junior contests of
    one minute, 44 seconds and 40 hundredths.




    Romanians Razvan Ursachi and Iulian Teodosiu have ranked fifth and sixth
    respectively in the individual sabre contest of the European Fencing
    Championships in Antalya, Turkey. In the quarterfinals, Ursachi lost to Sandro
    Bazadze of Georgia 15-8 while Teodosiu also lost the quarters to Bolade Apithy
    of France 15-10.




    Another two Romanians, George Dragomir and Codrin Cozmuleanu came 24th
    and 31st respectively. While on Friday in the women’s foil event Emilia
    Corbu and Mălina Călugăreanu of Romania came 28th and 32nd
    respectively.




    Romania’s football selection has conceded a 2-1 defeat to Italy in its
    first game of the European Under-21 Championship. In the other game of the
    group, France secured a 5-0 win against Slovakia. Romania will next play France.
    The first two sides in every group will
    qualify for the semifinals and the World Cup due in Indonesia next year. Sides ranking third will go into the playoffs
    for a fifth European place at the World Cup.


    (bill)

  • Sports roundup

    Sports roundup

    Brazilian
    tennis player Beatriz Haddad Maia has won the WTA tournament in Birmingham with
    251,750 dollars in prize money. In the finals Haddad Maia defeated Shuai Zhang 5-4,
    after the Chinese had abandoned the game. Hadad Maia had secured a 6-3, 2-6,
    6-4, win against Romanian Simona Halep in the semis while Zhang had also
    defeated another Romanian, Sorana Cârstea, 4-6, 6-1, 7-6.

    Romanian
    swimmers Robert Glinta and David Popovici have qualified for the finals of the World
    Swimming Championship in Budapest. Glință has qualified for the finals of the 100-meter
    backstroke race while Popovici, who is at his first participation in the
    aforementioned competition, has qualified for the finals of the 200-meter
    freestyle race with the best time also setting a record for junior contests of
    one minute, 44 seconds and 40 hundredths.




    Romanians Razvan Ursachi and Iulian Teodosiu have ranked fifth and sixth
    respectively in the individual sabre contest of the European Fencing
    Championships in Antalya, Turkey. In the quarterfinals, Ursachi lost to Sandro
    Bazadze of Georgia 15-8 while Teodosiu also lost the quarters to Bolade Apithy
    of France 15-10.




    Another two Romanians, George Dragomir and Codrin Cozmuleanu came 24th
    and 31st respectively. While on Friday in the women’s foil event Emilia
    Corbu and Mălina Călugăreanu of Romania came 28th and 32nd
    respectively.




    Romania’s football selection has conceded a 2-1 defeat to Italy in its
    first game of the European Under-21 Championship. In the other game of the
    group, France secured a 5-0 win against Slovakia. Romania will next play France.
    The first two sides in every group will
    qualify for the semifinals and the World Cup due in Indonesia next year. Sides ranking third will go into the playoffs
    for a fifth European place at the World Cup.


    (bill)

  • November 5, 2021 UPDATE

    November 5, 2021 UPDATE

    COVID-19 8,268 Covid-19 infections and 483 fatalities have been reported by the
    authorities in the past 24 hours in Romania. All ICUs across the country are
    functioning at full capacity and most of the cases have been reported in
    Bucharest where the infection rate is going down under 12 per thousand. Romania
    presently has 38 Covid patients who are being treated abroad and medical teams
    from several countries have arrived in Romania to provide assistance. On Friday
    the country exceeded the threshold of 50 thousand Covid-related fatalities
    since the beginning of the pandemic. Romania’s vaccine rollout has slowed down
    in the past days after having been on the rise for two weeks. Roughly 90
    thousand people have been vaccinated in the past 24 hours bringing the total
    number of fully vaccinated Romanians to a little below 6.5 million.






    GOVERNMENT On
    Monday the National Political Bureau of National Liberal Party -
    PNL will make a decision regarding the negotiations with Save Romania
    Union – USR and the Social Democratic Party – PSD, the interim Prime Minister
    and Liberal leader Florin Cîţu announced on Friday. According to him, at the
    meeting with PSD, the option of a rotating prime minister position was
    suggested, but they did not talk about portfolios. He said that the talks with
    USR, a former governing partner, would continue. On Thursday, Florin Cîţu
    declared after the negotiations with the PSD leader, Marcel Ciolacu, that he
    found many things that could bring the two parties together. In his turn,
    the Social Democrat’s president said that the two parties are on a correct
    path, which could lead to the formation of a majority. The PNL and PSD
    negotiating teams are trying to find a governing formula, with a solid
    parliamentary majority, after two attempts to form a minority government failed.
    On Thursday evening, President Klaus Iohannis announced that he would call the
    parties for consultations only when an assumed parliamentary majority is
    formed. We recall that the minority government made up of the PNL – UDMR headed
    by Florin Citu was dismissed by a no confidence motion.






    SCHOOL
    Classes are going to start on November 8 for all students and preschoolers in
    Romania, both in the state and private education systems, the interim Education
    Minister, Sorin Cîmpeanu said in a news conference on Friday. He explained that
    courses will be attended physically in the schools where the COVID vaccination
    rate among teachers is over 60%. One week ago, the minister had announced that
    more than half of the schools and kindergartens exceeded this level. Instead,
    several student associations across the country request the opening of schools
    with physical attendance only in those localities where the incidence of COVID
    cases is less than 6 per thousand inhabitants.




    WHO
    A World Health Organization delegation is in Bucharest where they visited
    several hospitals in Romania. Their conclusion is that the situation in
    hospitals across Romania is dramatic and immediate medical measures are needed
    to protect vulnerable people, above all. At the same time, vaccination against
    COVID-19 is the main solution to prevent new waves of infection. WHO
    representatives have also met with members of the parliamentary health
    committees of the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies.






    MOSCOW Romanian swimmer Robert Glinta
    has won silver in the 100 meter backstroke race of the European Short Course
    Swimming Championship held in Kazan, Russia. The Romanian came second after
    Russian Kliment Kolesnikov. This has been Glinta’s second medal in the
    competition after that in the 50 meter race. His prize closet includes four
    European medals in short course competitions in 2017 in Copenhagen and 2019 in
    Glasgow. Glinta also won gold in the 100 meter backstroke race of the European
    Swimming Championships held in Budapest this year.




    (bill)

  • Romania at the Olympic Games

    Romania at the Olympic Games

    Rower Mădălina Bereş and swimmer Robert Glinţă have been
    designated the flag bearers of Romania’s team at the Olympics in Tokyo, the
    Romanian Olympic and Sports Committee has announced. Mădălina Bereş was a
    bronze medalist at the Olympic Games in Rio 2016, world champion with Romania’s
    eight and six times European champion. Glinta is the first Romanian swimmer to
    win gold at the European Championships and the first athlete qualified for the
    Tokyo Olympics.






    The first Romanian flag bearer at the Olympic Games was
    Iosif Sarbu, in Melbourne 1956. He used to be Olympic champion in the shooting
    contest of the Helsinki Olympics in 1952. An illness in his right eye prompted
    him to modify his gun to be able to use his left eye for shooting and went
    fifth in Melbourne, a remarkable performance under the given circumstances.






    However, the athlete with the largest number of
    participations as Romania’s flag bearer was kayaker Aurel Vernescu. He carried
    the flag for Romania three times, in Tokyo 1964, Mexico, four years later and
    Munich 1972. He was designated flag bearer after he had won two world titles in
    Yugoslavia in 1963.






    He compelled recognition in Tokyo as well with a bronze
    medal in the 500-meter individual race and with the Romanian four in the 1000-meter
    event. In Munich 1972, he stepped onto the podium’s second step with the
    Romanian four in the 1000-meter race.


    Elisabeta Lipa became the first woman athlete to wear the
    flag for Romania at the Olympic Games. She had this honour in Sydney in 2000
    and Athens in 2004.


    Lipa obtained her first Olympic gold in Los Angeles in 1984
    together with Marioara Popescu in the double sculls event.




    Four years later she got bronze with the Romanian four and
    silver in the double sculls. She dominated the individual races for many years
    and eventually reaped the Olympic title in Barcelona in 1992. She later joined
    the famous Romanian eight with which she managed to win another three gold
    medals, in Atlanta in 1996, in Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004.




    Gymnasts from Romania have obtained the largest number of
    notable performances in international competitions. And the first gymnast to
    bear the Romanian flag in the Olympics was Catalina Ponor, triple Olympic
    champion in Athens 2004.


    In the end we remind you that you can revisit this report on
    the internet at rri.ro as well as on Radio Romania International’s Facebook
    profile


    (bill)

  • Romania at the Olympic Games

    Romania at the Olympic Games

    Rower Mădălina Bereş and swimmer Robert Glinţă have been
    designated the flag bearers of Romania’s team at the Olympics in Tokyo, the
    Romanian Olympic and Sports Committee has announced. Mădălina Bereş was a
    bronze medalist at the Olympic Games in Rio 2016, world champion with Romania’s
    eight and six times European champion. Glinta is the first Romanian swimmer to
    win gold at the European Championships and the first athlete qualified for the
    Tokyo Olympics.






    The first Romanian flag bearer at the Olympic Games was
    Iosif Sarbu, in Melbourne 1956. He used to be Olympic champion in the shooting
    contest of the Helsinki Olympics in 1952. An illness in his right eye prompted
    him to modify his gun to be able to use his left eye for shooting and went
    fifth in Melbourne, a remarkable performance under the given circumstances.






    However, the athlete with the largest number of
    participations as Romania’s flag bearer was kayaker Aurel Vernescu. He carried
    the flag for Romania three times, in Tokyo 1964, Mexico, four years later and
    Munich 1972. He was designated flag bearer after he had won two world titles in
    Yugoslavia in 1963.






    He compelled recognition in Tokyo as well with a bronze
    medal in the 500-meter individual race and with the Romanian four in the 1000-meter
    event. In Munich 1972, he stepped onto the podium’s second step with the
    Romanian four in the 1000-meter race.


    Elisabeta Lipa became the first woman athlete to wear the
    flag for Romania at the Olympic Games. She had this honour in Sydney in 2000
    and Athens in 2004.


    Lipa obtained her first Olympic gold in Los Angeles in 1984
    together with Marioara Popescu in the double sculls event.




    Four years later she got bronze with the Romanian four and
    silver in the double sculls. She dominated the individual races for many years
    and eventually reaped the Olympic title in Barcelona in 1992. She later joined
    the famous Romanian eight with which she managed to win another three gold
    medals, in Atlanta in 1996, in Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004.




    Gymnasts from Romania have obtained the largest number of
    notable performances in international competitions. And the first gymnast to
    bear the Romanian flag in the Olympics was Catalina Ponor, triple Olympic
    champion in Athens 2004.


    In the end we remind you that you can revisit this report on
    the internet at rri.ro as well as on Radio Romania International’s Facebook
    profile


    (bill)

  • The Athlete of the week: Swimmer Robert Glinţǎ

    The Athlete of the week: Swimmer Robert Glinţǎ

    Last week brought a new medal to Romanian swimming. Robert Glinţǎ won the bronze medal at the European Short Course Swimming Championships hosted by Glasgow, the UK. For his performance, Radio Romania International has designated Robert Glinţǎ the Athlete of the Week.



    Robert Glinţǎ came on 3rd place, on Friday, in the Men 100m Backstroke Heat. He had got into the semifinals with an exceptional time: 50 seconds and 13 hundredths. In the final, he obtained a poorer time by 17 hundredths, but that was enough to bring him the bronze medal. First came the Russian Kliment Kolesnikov with 49 seconds and 9 hundredths and second came the German Christian Diener, with 49 seconds and 94 hundredths. On Sunday in the 50m backstroke heat final, Glinţǎ was only 12 hundredths of a second away from a new medal, being outrun by the Irish Shane Ryan. The first and second places were also taken by Kolesnikov and Diener.


    For Robert Glinţǎ the bronze medal obtained in Glasgow is the 3rd one that he obtained in a continental competition. His record also includes a bronze medal at the 2017 European Short Course Championships in Copenhagen, also in the 100m backstroke heat and a silver medal at the 2018 European Championships also hosted by Glasgow in the 50m backstroke heat.


    Robert Glinţǎ was born on April 18, 1997 in Pitesti. He started practicing various sports as a child. He began with karate and then he took up swimming. He has broken tens of national records both in the children, under – 21 and senior competitions. He was the only Romanian swimmer who reached the finals of the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, when his best result was the 8th place in the 100m backstroke heat, with 53 seconds and 50 hundredths.


    You have been listening to the Athlete of the Week. You can find this sports item on RRI’s website and Facebook profile.