Radio România Internațional

Tag: stadium

  • Radio Romania International Sports Club

    Radio Romania International Sports Club

    The main European inter-club competition, the Champions League, this year as well, will see no Romanian team booking its place for the event. In the first preliminary round, holders Farul Constanta lost to Republic of Moldova title holders, Sheriff Tiraspol. In the first leg on home turf Farul grabbed a 1-nil win, yet this past Tuesday Sheriff Tiraspol secured a 3-nil win after extra time.



    The fixture was initially scheduled in Republic of Moldovas capital city, Chisinau, yet the match was eventually hosted by the very arena of Sheriff football club, located in the main city of separatist region Trans-Dniester, Tiraspol. A small party of Constanta-based fans was in the stands, people who stopped at nothing on their way to Tiraspol, in a bid to support their favorite team.



    With a minimum advantage, Farul began the match on a predominantly defensive note, with no bouts of their usual, combinatorial and aggressive game. They withstood their opponents game towards the end of the first half when Moroccan player Amine Talal drew first blood for Sheriff as Cameroon Ngom Mbekeli crossed the ball in front of Farul s goal.



    The second half was a little bit more balanced yet Gheorghe Hagis trainees were unable to secure a vigorous comeback on the pitch and have the upper hand throughout the game. The scoreboard for the regular, 90-minute time displayed a 1-nil advantage for Sheriff Tiraspol so two extra time halves followed. Taking advantage of Farul flawed defensive game, Sheriffs footballers scored twice, through Ngom Bekeli on 99 minutes and Nigerian Peter Ademo in minute 105. Farul will thus play in the preliminary round of the third-tier European competition, Conference League, where they are pitted against Armenias title holders, FC Urartu. We recall the latter team was eliminated from the Champions League preliminaries by Bosnian opponents Zrinjski Mostar.



    Four Romanian teams will play in the second round of Europa Conference League preliminaries. The first leg in scheduled next week, On Wednesday, FCSB take on ŢSKA Sofia 1948, away from home, in a match hosted by the Bulgarian capital citys Vasil Levski stadium. On Thursday, in a fixture hosted by the Bălgarska Armia stadium, also in Sofia, Sepsi Sfântu Gheorghe face ŢSKA-Sofia. CFR Cluj play a home match against Turkeys Adana Demirspor, while Farul play FC Urartu of Armenia.



  • Sports Flash

    Sports Flash

    The finals of the National Women’s Handball League has come close to
    its decisive game. Baschet Arad and Sepsi Sfântu Gheorghe are running neck and
    neck on aggregate, 2-all, after Arad secured a 67-63 home win on Wednesday.




    US player Andreona Lanay Keys was the hosts’ best player with 28 points.
    Another US player Brianna Fraser was the visitors’ best scorer with 18 points.
    The finals is played in the best-of-five system, with Sepsi winning the first
    two and Arad the other two matches. The final’s decisive game is due on
    Saturday, April 30th in Sfantu Gheorghe, central Romania.




    Football now. Rapid Bucharest’s stadium in Giuleşti will be hosting the
    Romanian Cup finals, which is due on May 19th at 20:30 local time. The stadium,
    which was inaugurated this year, is the new home stadium for Rapid, a football
    club, which next year will be celebrating 100 years of existence. The construction,
    which boasts 14 thousand seats, is to be the first Bucharest stadium to host
    the finals of the aforementioned competition after four years. In 2018,
    Universitatea Craiova secured a 2-0 win against Hermannstadt. The competition
    is now in the stage of the semifinals with the first round won by FC Voluntari
    2-0 against FC Arges, while Sepsi Sfantu Gheorghe secured a 2-1 win against
    Universitatea Craiova. The return games are to take place over May 10 and 12.






    Romania’s Judo Federation is expecting two medals from the European
    Championships hosted by Bulgarian capital Sofia this weekend. The Federation’s
    chair, Cozmin Gușă, has told Agerpres news agency that Romania’s
    representatives in the 73 and 100 kilogram categories stand most of the chances
    to win a medal in Sofia. They are Alexandru
    Raicu, winner of the last year’s Grand Slam tournament in Tel Aviv and Adrian Șulcă, world champion in junior competitions.




    In the 100 kilogram category Romania counts on Asley Gonzalez, a Cuban
    athlete who became a Romanian citizen last year. Gonzales became world champion
    in Rio in 2013 and silver medalist in London Olympics in 2021. The odds are
    good for the Romanians as athletes from Russia aren’t going to participate in
    the competition.


    (bill)

  • Sports Flash

    Sports Flash

    The finals of the National Women’s Handball League has come close to
    its decisive game. Baschet Arad and Sepsi Sfântu Gheorghe are running neck and
    neck on aggregate, 2-all, after Arad secured a 67-63 home win on Wednesday.




    US player Andreona Lanay Keys was the hosts’ best player with 28 points.
    Another US player Brianna Fraser was the visitors’ best scorer with 18 points.
    The finals is played in the best-of-five system, with Sepsi winning the first
    two and Arad the other two matches. The final’s decisive game is due on
    Saturday, April 30th in Sfantu Gheorghe, central Romania.




    Football now. Rapid Bucharest’s stadium in Giuleşti will be hosting the
    Romanian Cup finals, which is due on May 19th at 20:30 local time. The stadium,
    which was inaugurated this year, is the new home stadium for Rapid, a football
    club, which next year will be celebrating 100 years of existence. The construction,
    which boasts 14 thousand seats, is to be the first Bucharest stadium to host
    the finals of the aforementioned competition after four years. In 2018,
    Universitatea Craiova secured a 2-0 win against Hermannstadt. The competition
    is now in the stage of the semifinals with the first round won by FC Voluntari
    2-0 against FC Arges, while Sepsi Sfantu Gheorghe secured a 2-1 win against
    Universitatea Craiova. The return games are to take place over May 10 and 12.






    Romania’s Judo Federation is expecting two medals from the European
    Championships hosted by Bulgarian capital Sofia this weekend. The Federation’s
    chair, Cozmin Gușă, has told Agerpres news agency that Romania’s
    representatives in the 73 and 100 kilogram categories stand most of the chances
    to win a medal in Sofia. They are Alexandru
    Raicu, winner of the last year’s Grand Slam tournament in Tel Aviv and Adrian Șulcă, world champion in junior competitions.




    In the 100 kilogram category Romania counts on Asley Gonzalez, a Cuban
    athlete who became a Romanian citizen last year. Gonzales became world champion
    in Rio in 2013 and silver medalist in London Olympics in 2021. The odds are
    good for the Romanians as athletes from Russia aren’t going to participate in
    the competition.


    (bill)

  • Sports flash

    Sports flash


    The opening ceremony of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic
    Games is scheduled this coming Friday. A 22-strong Romanian delegation will compete
    in the Olympics, with 8 women athletes and 14 men athletes vying for medals. Luge,
    bobsleigh, alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, ski jumping, biathlon and speed
    skating are the competing disciplines. However, the head-coach of the Olympic luge
    team, Ioan Apostol, is Covid-19-infected, according to an announcement made by
    the Romanian Olympic and Sports Committee. The Romanian sports body added the
    Romanian head-coach would stay in isolation, in keeping with the Games Organizing
    Committee’s system of regulations. All participants in the Winter Olympics are being
    tested daily.


    The Romanian Sports Minister Eduard Novak has stated the
    Gymnastics and Athletics federations have climbed 9 and 10 notches down, respectively,
    following a classification compiled according to a state-budget form of financing earmarked for the two federations. The causes of that are the poor results Romanian gymnasts and athletes have had
    in recent years. The parameters that were taken into account for the
    classification were the 2021 results in international competitions, that is
    world, European cups, world and European championships, seniors’, Under-21 versions
    of competitions, as well as the number of medals. Minister Novak spoke highly
    of the rowers, with their 34 medals, and of judokas, with 14 medals. Eduard Novak also mentioned the table tennis players, with their 9 medals. The
    Romanian sports minister went on to say, QUOTE, I want us to invest, since 48
    of the clubs belong to the Ministry and a mere 12 or 15 gymnastics departments,
    which is quite unassuming. I intend to open, in two, maybe three years’ time, 15
    or 20 other gymnastics sections. Because gymnastics, just like the winter
    sports, is being practiced in certain areas alone. And if we want our
    gymnastics to grow on firm grounds, we need to have gymnastics practiced countrywide,
    it’s the key to all that, UNQUOTE.


    There are a couple of stadiums in Bucharest that have been recently refurbished
    to host the teams that will be preparing, in Romania, for EURO 2020. As of late, these stadiums have timidly entered
    the competition circuit. On Saturday, the Triumphal Arch Stadium will be
    hosting the rugby match pitting the Romanian national team against Russia.
    However, the Arena will soon be opened for football competitions as well, yet pending
    legal matters are still to be sorted out.


    Romanian vice-champions, FCSB, have already made public their intention
    to play on the new stadium, which has a seating capacity of 80,000 seats. Rapid
    head-coach Mihai Iosif told a press conference that the Giulesti Stadium, on
    February 26, could host the Bucharest derby pitting Rapid against Dinamo.
    Construction works for the new Giulesti Stadium were completed in late 2021. On
    January 4, 2022, Rapid Sports Club officially took over the administration of
    the new stadium. The club immediately initiated the procedures to obtain all
    official permits for the stadium.

    (EN)


  • Sports flash

    Sports flash


    The opening ceremony of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic
    Games is scheduled this coming Friday. A 22-strong Romanian delegation will compete
    in the Olympics, with 8 women athletes and 14 men athletes vying for medals. Luge,
    bobsleigh, alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, ski jumping, biathlon and speed
    skating are the competing disciplines. However, the head-coach of the Olympic luge
    team, Ioan Apostol, is Covid-19-infected, according to an announcement made by
    the Romanian Olympic and Sports Committee. The Romanian sports body added the
    Romanian head-coach would stay in isolation, in keeping with the Games Organizing
    Committee’s system of regulations. All participants in the Winter Olympics are being
    tested daily.


    The Romanian Sports Minister Eduard Novak has stated the
    Gymnastics and Athletics federations have climbed 9 and 10 notches down, respectively,
    following a classification compiled according to a state-budget form of financing earmarked for the two federations. The causes of that are the poor results Romanian gymnasts and athletes have had
    in recent years. The parameters that were taken into account for the
    classification were the 2021 results in international competitions, that is
    world, European cups, world and European championships, seniors’, Under-21 versions
    of competitions, as well as the number of medals. Minister Novak spoke highly
    of the rowers, with their 34 medals, and of judokas, with 14 medals. Eduard Novak also mentioned the table tennis players, with their 9 medals. The
    Romanian sports minister went on to say, QUOTE, I want us to invest, since 48
    of the clubs belong to the Ministry and a mere 12 or 15 gymnastics departments,
    which is quite unassuming. I intend to open, in two, maybe three years’ time, 15
    or 20 other gymnastics sections. Because gymnastics, just like the winter
    sports, is being practiced in certain areas alone. And if we want our
    gymnastics to grow on firm grounds, we need to have gymnastics practiced countrywide,
    it’s the key to all that, UNQUOTE.


    There are a couple of stadiums in Bucharest that have been recently refurbished
    to host the teams that will be preparing, in Romania, for EURO 2020. As of late, these stadiums have timidly entered
    the competition circuit. On Saturday, the Triumphal Arch Stadium will be
    hosting the rugby match pitting the Romanian national team against Russia.
    However, the Arena will soon be opened for football competitions as well, yet pending
    legal matters are still to be sorted out.


    Romanian vice-champions, FCSB, have already made public their intention
    to play on the new stadium, which has a seating capacity of 80,000 seats. Rapid
    head-coach Mihai Iosif told a press conference that the Giulesti Stadium, on
    February 26, could host the Bucharest derby pitting Rapid against Dinamo.
    Construction works for the new Giulesti Stadium were completed in late 2021. On
    January 4, 2022, Rapid Sports Club officially took over the administration of
    the new stadium. The club immediately initiated the procedures to obtain all
    official permits for the stadium.

    (EN)


  • Sports Flash

    Sports Flash


    The Romanian forward Denis Drăguş scored for his team, Standard Liège, in the 24th leg of Belgiums top football league. His club defeated Eupen 2-0 away from home on Wednesday night. In the current season, in the 17 matches played for the Walloon side, Drăguş has scored 5 times.



    The football side Dinamo Bucharest was defeated on Wednesday in a friendly match by 3rd-leaguer CS Popeşti-Leordeni, 2-1. The game was played on Dinamos turf. This is also where this coming Sunday Dinamo will play the derby match of the Romanian football championship against FCSB, formerly Steaua Bucharest. According to mass media, this will be the last derby match on Dinamo stadium, which is scheduled to be bulldozed this spring to be replaced by a modern arena. Dinamo stadium was built in 1951 and is owned by the Romanian Interior Ministry.



    In another derby, in mens volleyball this time, Steaua won with flying colours, 3-0, against Dinamo Bucharest in the 14th leg of the national Division A1. Defending champions Arcada Galaţi scored an equally clear victory, 3-0, against Rapid Bucharest. Arcada top the current standings with 39 points, followed by Steaua, with 35. SCM U Craiova went up to the 3rd place with 34 points after beating U Cluj 3-0, and 4th come Dinamo, with 33 points.



    The Romanian tennis player Ana Bogdan qualified in the round of 16 of the ITF tournament in Andrezieux-Boutheon, France, with 60,000 USD in total prize money. In the first round, on Wednesday, she defeated Leolia Jeanjean of France, 6-3, 6-3. Bogdan, 116 WTA and seed no 3, needed 1 hour and 33 minutes to defeat an opponent ranking 373 in the world standings. Last year in the Andrezieux-Boutheon tournament, the Romanian player Jaqueline Cristian reached the final. (A.M.P.)


  • Sports Flash

    Sports Flash


    The Romanian forward Denis Drăguş scored for his team, Standard Liège, in the 24th leg of Belgiums top football league. His club defeated Eupen 2-0 away from home on Wednesday night. In the current season, in the 17 matches played for the Walloon side, Drăguş has scored 5 times.



    The football side Dinamo Bucharest was defeated on Wednesday in a friendly match by 3rd-leaguer CS Popeşti-Leordeni, 2-1. The game was played on Dinamos turf. This is also where this coming Sunday Dinamo will play the derby match of the Romanian football championship against FCSB, formerly Steaua Bucharest. According to mass media, this will be the last derby match on Dinamo stadium, which is scheduled to be bulldozed this spring to be replaced by a modern arena. Dinamo stadium was built in 1951 and is owned by the Romanian Interior Ministry.



    In another derby, in mens volleyball this time, Steaua won with flying colours, 3-0, against Dinamo Bucharest in the 14th leg of the national Division A1. Defending champions Arcada Galaţi scored an equally clear victory, 3-0, against Rapid Bucharest. Arcada top the current standings with 39 points, followed by Steaua, with 35. SCM U Craiova went up to the 3rd place with 34 points after beating U Cluj 3-0, and 4th come Dinamo, with 33 points.



    The Romanian tennis player Ana Bogdan qualified in the round of 16 of the ITF tournament in Andrezieux-Boutheon, France, with 60,000 USD in total prize money. In the first round, on Wednesday, she defeated Leolia Jeanjean of France, 6-3, 6-3. Bogdan, 116 WTA and seed no 3, needed 1 hour and 33 minutes to defeat an opponent ranking 373 in the world standings. Last year in the Andrezieux-Boutheon tournament, the Romanian player Jaqueline Cristian reached the final. (A.M.P.)


  • The sounds of a football stadium

    The sounds of a football stadium

    A World Record “Goal!”



    The first ever official football match played on Romanian soil was hosted by Arad, in the west, on August 16, 1899. Romania’s national football team made its debut on June 8, 1922, in an away match played in Belgrade, against Yugoslavia, which it defeated, 2-1. Romania’s national football team has so far participated in seven World Football Championships. In 1994, Romania reached as far as the quarter finals of the FIFA World Cup in the USA. The leader of the so-called “golden generation” of Romanian football is Gheorghe Hagi.



    Football fan galleries in Romania do not have a long tradition in performing football chants on stadiums. That’s why we have chosen to illustrate the sounds of stadiums with the “Goooal” shout by a famous Romanian sports commentator, Ilie Dobre, a former colleague of ours, at Radio Romania. Ilie Dobre has set several Guinness World Records for his extraordinary capacity to shout the word “Goooal” for tens of seconds, without respiration. Ilie Dobre has got, among others, a certification from the World Records Academy for setting a world record for the ”Longest shout without respiration, in studio”, (52.03 seconds).





    The atmosphere of Prague’s big Slavia-Sparta derby



    This year was the first time since 1942 that Slavia Prague football club secured the double, meaning lifting both the league title and the domestic cup. The latter trophy was celebrated by Slavia — who famously wear red and white — at their own Eden stadium following a 3:2 victory over their old foes Sparta Prague on the final day of the season.



    Slavia, which was founded in 1892, has traditionally been the club of the elite of the Czech nation, including, actors, singers, filmmakers and other sports people. Among the club’s best-known supporters have been President Edvard Beneš and Oscar-winning movie director Miloš Forman. Slavia’s greatest legend remains Josef Bican, who received a medal from the International Federation of Football History and Statistics as one of the most prolific goal scorers of the 20th century. The club’s strip has also been worn by Vladimír Šmicer, who lifted the Champions League with Liverpool.



    This year’s domestic league title was Slavia’s 19th, with the club second in this respect behind Sparta (36 titles). Slavia cemented their domination of Czech football by also lifting the Czech cup and reaching the quarter-finals of the Europa League, where they lost to eventual winners Chelsea. In the following sound report you can enjoy the atmosphere of the most recent Slavia-Sparta derby, the biggest game the Czech league has to offer.





    Land of Soccer



    Soccer is the most popular sport in Switzerland by far: 268’000 players are licensed, of which 8% are women. A visit to the third highest league shows the commitment and level of amateurs. On a rainy Saturday afternoon in May, the two Bernese clubs FC Köniz and FC Münsingen drew 1:1 in front of 375 spectators.



    In addition, the two most important international football associations have their headquarters in Switzerland: FIFA and UEFA.





    When Canadians play “the beautiful game”



    The sport of soccer, or football as it’s generally known around the world outside of North America, is enjoying a huge increase in popularity in Canada. In fact, although hockey seems to be a part of the Canadian genetic makeup, more young Canadians play soccer than do hockey.



    The reason is likely due to the simplicity and cost of soccer. Unlike hockey with its multitude of pads, helmet, sticks, and skates, all very expensive equipment that must constantly be upgraded as a child grows, football’s needs are few. All it takes is a ball, a field and soccer boots. Also soccer has become increasingly popular among girls and women. The sport has also become an important way for newcomers from around the world to integrate into Canada. Indeed it gives them an advantage as their countries of origin almost always have a much greater history and experience with the sport.



    With a new professional Premier league starting in Canada to compete with the already existing top North American MLS league, there are more opportunities for newcomers to make their way as football professionals in Canada.



    The Montreal Impact, the third Canadian team to enter the MLS league after Toronto FC and the Vancouver Whitecaps, each with team members from around the world is a reflection of the diversity in Canadian society today.