https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Europe in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed France said on Friday it was "greatly concerned" about the International Olympic Committee's decision to introduce gender testing to determine eligibility for the female category, saying it was a "step backwards". https://www.thelocal.com/20260327/france-calls-new-olympic-gender-testing-a-step-backwards Fri, 27 Mar 2026 11:55:30 +0100 france-calls-new-olympic-gender-testing-a-step-backwards The Women's Rugby World Cup kicks off on Friday evening in England, with France tipped to do well - so if you're watching the games here, we've got some handy French vocab to shout at the TV. https://www.thelocal.com/20230811/beer-balls-and-tackles-french-vocab-youll-need-for-the-rugby-world-cup Fri, 11 Aug 2023 14:09:15 +0200 beer-balls-and-tackles-french-vocab-youll-need-for-the-rugby-world-cup England beat Spain 3-1 on penalties to win the Women's Euro 2025 and retain their title after Sunday's final had finished 1-1 at the end of extra time. https://www.thelocal.com/20250727/england-beat-spain-on-penalties-to-win-womens-euro-2025-final Sun, 27 Jul 2025 23:19:34 +0200 england-beat-spain-on-penalties-to-win-womens-euro-2025-final Surfing enthusiasts have cheered the reopening of a beloved whitewater site in downtown Munich, the German city better known for partying at Oktoberfest than splashing in the waves. https://www.thelocal.com/20250719/aloha-bavaria-munich-surfers-riding-wild-river-wave-again Sat, 19 Jul 2025 10:26:04 +0200 aloha-bavaria-munich-surfers-riding-wild-river-wave-again Swedish supporters' group the Soft Hooligans have brought their chants, drums and message of inclusion to Switzerland to support their national team at Euro 2025, to spread good vibes in the stands and better conditions for women's football. https://www.thelocal.com/20250715/swedens-soft-hooligans-promote-better-vibes-at-womens-euros Tue, 15 Jul 2025 11:28:59 +0200 swedens-soft-hooligans-promote-better-vibes-at-womens-euros As he prepares to welcome the Tour de France to his Normandy village, John Lichfield reflects on why the world's greatest cycle race remains as popular as ever with the French, despite their 40-year losing streak. https://www.thelocal.com/20250709/opinion-tour-de-france-remains-a-great-french-festival-even-if-the-french-no-longer-win Wed, 09 Jul 2025 11:21:09 +0200 opinion-tour-de-france-remains-a-great-french-festival-even-if-the-french-no-longer-win Twenty-eight-year-old Liverpool and Portugal forward Diogo Jota died in a car crash in Spain alongside his brother in the early hours of Thursday morning, police have confirmed. Here’s what we know so far about the tragic accident. https://www.thelocal.com/20250703/what-we-know-about-footballer-diogo-jotas-death-in-a-car-crash-in-spain Thu, 03 Jul 2025 13:04:08 +0200 what-we-know-about-footballer-diogo-jotas-death-in-a-car-crash-in-spain The 16-team women's football tournament, to be held in eight Swiss cities, kicks off on July 2nd. Here's an overview. https://www.thelocal.com/20250630/what-fans-need-to-know-about-the-womens-euro-2025-tournament-in-switzerland Mon, 30 Jun 2025 17:57:02 +0200 what-fans-need-to-know-about-the-womens-euro-2025-tournament-in-switzerland You might know it as the French Open, but in France it is simply 'le Roland Garros' tennis tournament - but who was Roland Garros? https://www.thelocal.com/20230525/reader-question-who-was-roland-garros-and-what-is-his-connection-to-french-tennis Thu, 25 May 2023 11:41:27 +0200 reader-question-who-was-roland-garros-and-what-is-his-connection-to-french-tennis Rafael Nadal was the "King of Clay" but he also reigned on every other surface as he accumulated 22 Grand Slam titles. His even-keeled and humble demeanour, on and off the court, endeared him to rivals and legions of fans. https://www.thelocal.com/20241120/nadal-a-look-back-at-the-career-of-spains-greatest-ever-sports-star Wed, 20 Nov 2024 10:27:16 +0100 nadal-a-look-back-at-the-career-of-spains-greatest-ever-sports-star Israel has urged fans to avoid Thursday's France-Israel football tie, which authorities fear could become a flashpoint following violence in Amsterdam surrounding a match involving an Israeli team. https://www.thelocal.com/20241111/israel-urges-fans-to-skip-high-risk-france-israel-football-match Mon, 11 Nov 2024 11:51:08 +0100 israel-urges-fans-to-skip-high-risk-france-israel-football-match Responding to "media reports" that Kylian Mbappé is being investigated for rape by Swedish police, a prosecutor confirmed on Tuesday without naming the Real Madrid star that an alleged rape had been reported to police. Mbappé denounced the reports as 'fake news'. https://www.thelocal.com/20241014/fake-news-mbappe-slams-report-of-rape-investigation-in-swedish-tabloid Mon, 14 Oct 2024 22:13:48 +0200 fake-news-mbappe-slams-report-of-rape-investigation-in-swedish-tabloid Rafael Nadal announced on Thursday he will retire from professional tennis after the Davis Cup finals in November, ending a career in which he won 22 Grand Slam titles and Olympic singles gold. https://www.thelocal.com/20241010/breaking-spains-rafa-nadal-to-retire-in-november Thu, 10 Oct 2024 13:53:11 +0200 breaking-spains-rafa-nadal-to-retire-in-november Guests at the funeral of Swedish football legend Sven-Göran Eriksson were to be treated to a menu of local Värmland cuisine on Friday: motti and molusk. https://www.thelocal.com/20240913/why-were-guests-at-sven-goran-erikssons-funeral-served-porridge-and-molusk Fri, 13 Sep 2024 12:59:07 +0200 why-were-guests-at-sven-goran-erikssons-funeral-served-porridge-and-molusk Did you watch Sweden's 'Mondo' break the pole vault world record in Paris? If not, you missed something spectacular. Catch up here. https://www.thelocal.com/20240806/how-us-born-swede-armand-duplantis-cemented-his-place-in-olympic-history Tue, 06 Aug 2024 08:39:20 +0200 how-us-born-swede-armand-duplantis-cemented-his-place-in-olympic-history The International Olympic Committee on Wednesday awarded the 2030 Winter Games to the French Alps but under the condition that France gives financial commitments. https://www.thelocal.com/20240724/ioc-awards-2030-winter-olympics-to-french-alps-under-conditions Wed, 24 Jul 2024 12:50:16 +0200 ioc-awards-2030-winter-olympics-to-french-alps-under-conditions Ahead of another high-profile clash between the Danish and English national football teams, The Local Denmark’s Michael Barrett reflects on the Nordic nation’s attitudes to the British. https://www.thelocal.com/20240620/you-only-eat-beige-food-what-do-danes-really-think-about-the-english Thu, 20 Jun 2024 15:27:44 +0200 you-only-eat-beige-food-what-do-danes-really-think-about-the-english People travelling into Germany should expect more random checks at borders from Friday ahead of the UEFA Euro 2024 tournament. https://www.thelocal.com/20240607/what-to-know-about-germanys-extra-border-checks-for-euro-2024 Fri, 07 Jun 2024 11:56:36 +0200 what-to-know-about-germanys-extra-border-checks-for-euro-2024 Big cities in Germany are bracing themselves for Euro 2024, which will bring millions of football fans to the country for a month-long football bonanza. Here's what you need to know about how the championship will impact accommodation, transportation and border controls this summer. https://www.thelocal.com/20240503/euro-2024-what-you-can-expect-in-germany-during-europes-biggest-football-frenzy Fri, 03 May 2024 14:15:22 +0200 euro-2024-what-you-can-expect-in-germany-during-europes-biggest-football-frenzy The threat posed by Islamists is great, authorities say, and criminals, hooligans and other violent criminals are also a concern. So there will be heightened controls at Germany's borders for Euro 2024. https://www.thelocal.com/20240326/germany-announces-border-controls-for-european-football-championship Tue, 26 Mar 2024 11:32:02 +0100 germany-announces-border-controls-for-european-football-championship