http://www.spiegel.de Daily news, analysis and opinion from Europe's leading newsmagazine and Germany's top news Web site. en Sat, 18 May 2013 21:42:04 +0200 Sat, 18 May 2013 21:42:04 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de http://www.spiegel.de/static/sys/logo_120x61.gif http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/borussia-struggles-with-identity-ahead-of-champions-league-final-a-898863.html#ref=rss Borussia Dortmund's image as the underdog of European football is starting to cramp the style of individual players. Not everyone is comfortable in the role of the outsider -- and that might affect performance at the upcoming all-German Champions League final in Wembley. Fri, 10 May 2013 17:07:48 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/borussia-struggles-with-identity-ahead-of-champions-league-final-a-898863.html Borussia Dortmund's image as the underdog of European football is starting to cramp the style of individual players. Not everyone is comfortable in the role of the outsider -- and that might affect performance at the upcoming all-German Champions League final in Wembley. ]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/secrets-to-football-success-of-fc-bayern-munich-a-897739.html#ref=rss FC Bayern Munich already holds this year's German league title, and its drubbing of FC Barcelona puts the European championship just a match away. What makes this year's team so much more dominant than all its other star-studded predecessors? Thu, 02 May 2013 16:04:13 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/secrets-to-football-success-of-fc-bayern-munich-a-897739.html FC Bayern Munich already holds this year's German league title, and its drubbing of FC Barcelona puts the European championship just a match away. What makes this year's team so much more dominant than all its other star-studded predecessors?]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/german-born-canoeist-josefa-idem-becomes-italian-minister-a-897382.html#ref=rss German-born Olympic canoeist Josefa Idem has been named Italy's new minister for sports and equal opportunity. It's her first foray into national politics, and she's already sparring with the country's political heavyweights. Tue, 30 Apr 2013 15:25:00 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/german-born-canoeist-josefa-idem-becomes-italian-minister-a-897382.html German-born Olympic canoeist Josefa Idem has been named Italy's new minister for sports and equal opportunity. It's her first foray into national politics, and she's already sparring with the country's political heavyweights.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/christian-stangl-aims-for-record-in-skyrunning-mountain-climbing-a-896522.html#ref=rss After lying about a summit he didn't actually make, Austrian "skyrunner" Christian Stangl now wants to be the first person to scale the three highest mountains on each continent. But even if he sets the record, will he ever be able to clear his own? Fri, 26 Apr 2013 11:50:00 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/christian-stangl-aims-for-record-in-skyrunning-mountain-climbing-a-896522.html After lying about a summit he didn't actually make, Austrian "skyrunner" Christian Stangl now wants to be the first person to scale the three highest mountains on each continent. But even if he sets the record, will he ever be able to clear his own?]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/solidarity-and-security-concerns-in-europe-after-boston-marathon-bombs-a-894612.html#ref=rss European leaders on Tuesday offered their condolences to the victims of the Boston Marathon bombings, expressing widespread shock over the attacks. With a number of major sporting events coming up in their own countries, officials are also scrambling to increase security. Tue, 16 Apr 2013 12:42:00 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/solidarity-and-security-concerns-in-europe-after-boston-marathon-bombs-a-894612.html European leaders on Tuesday offered their condolences to the victims of the Boston Marathon bombings, expressing widespread shock over the attacks. With a number of major sporting events coming up in their own countries, officials are also scrambling to increase security.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/german-neo-nazis-use-violent-free-fighting-sport-to-recruit-a-893742.html#ref=rss The brutal combat sport known as free fighting is enjoying growing popularity in Germany. Neo-Nazis are infiltrating the world and using it to spread propaganda and recruit new blood. Fri, 12 Apr 2013 10:46:00 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/german-neo-nazis-use-violent-free-fighting-sport-to-recruit-a-893742.html http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/german-cyclist-stefan-schumacher-admits-doping-a-891695.html#ref=rss In an interview with SPIEGEL, professional German cyclist Stefan Schumacher has admitted he doped systematically for years. He also accuses a manager and doctors at his former cycling home, Team Gerolsteiner, of having been active in the system. Fri, 29 Mar 2013 13:38:36 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/german-cyclist-stefan-schumacher-admits-doping-a-891695.html http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/uefa-and-fifa-have-failed-in-their-efforts-to-combat-match-fixing-a-881592.html#ref=rss The results of the ongoing international investigation into the fixing of football matches reveal a far-reaching system that has affected hundreds of games. They also show that efforts by UEFA and FIFA to combat match-fixing have been a failure, as have attempts to arrest the scandal's primary suspect. Tue, 05 Feb 2013 14:19:01 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/uefa-and-fifa-have-failed-in-their-efforts-to-combat-match-fixing-a-881592.html http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/history-of-doping-catches-up-with-lance-armstrong-a-877960.html#ref=rss Lance Armstrong's admission to having used performance enhancing drugs had become unavoidable in recent months. No matter how vociferously he denied doping, the evidence that his hero status had been illicitly obtained was overwhelming. <i>By SPIEGEL Staff</i> Wed, 16 Jan 2013 15:34:00 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/history-of-doping-catches-up-with-lance-armstrong-a-877960.html Lance Armstrong's admission to having used performance enhancing drugs had become unavoidable in recent months. No matter how vociferously he denied doping, the evidence that his hero status had been illicitly obtained was overwhelming. By SPIEGEL Staff ]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/lance-armstrong-and-his-long-history-with-doping-a-877550.html#ref=rss Lance Armstrong has finally admitted to taking performance enhancing drugs. But for years, he fought against all who even suggested such a thing. His system was highly organized and secretive. And he made a lot of enemies along the way. <i>By SPIEGEL Staff</i> Tue, 15 Jan 2013 18:05:00 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/lance-armstrong-and-his-long-history-with-doping-a-877550.html Lance Armstrong has finally admitted to taking performance enhancing drugs. But for years, he fought against all who even suggested such a thing. His system was highly organized and secretive. And he made a lot of enemies along the way. By SPIEGEL Staff ]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/vienna-indoor-marathon-mistake-means-personal-bests-for-many-runners-a-873443.html#ref=rss Spectators and participants alike marvelled at the impressive race times clocked up at an indoor marathon in Vienna, Austria, on Sunday. But it turned out that the runners weren't particularly fast after all -- the race course had been too short. Mon, 17 Dec 2012 18:01:32 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/vienna-indoor-marathon-mistake-means-personal-bests-for-many-runners-a-873443.html http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/neo-nazis-make-inroads-with-ultra-soccer-fans-in-dortmund-a-868474.html#ref=rss German football team Borussia Dortmund has inspired legions of hardcore fans known as 'ultras.' But as the team's fortunes rise, right-wing extremists have gained a foothold in its fan base, wreaking havoc during matches. <i>By SPIEGEL Staff</i> Thu, 22 Nov 2012 12:28:00 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/neo-nazis-make-inroads-with-ultra-soccer-fans-in-dortmund-a-868474.html German football team Borussia Dortmund has inspired legions of hardcore fans known as 'ultras.' But as the team's fortunes rise, right-wing extremists have gained a foothold in its fan base, wreaking havoc during matches. By SPIEGEL Staff ]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/kabul-born-german-boxer-brings-first-ring-fight-to-afghanistan-a-867029.html#ref=rss As a child, Hamid Rahimi fled the war in his native Afghanistan to Hamburg. After struggling to fit in, he developed a pair of angry fists that eventually landed him in juvenile prison. But he learned to control his temper and now wants to use his skills for good -- and for peace in his homeland. Fri, 16 Nov 2012 11:01:00 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/kabul-born-german-boxer-brings-first-ring-fight-to-afghanistan-a-867029.html As a child, Hamid Rahimi fled the war in his native Afghanistan to Hamburg. After struggling to fit in, he developed a pair of angry fists that eventually landed him in juvenile prison. But he learned to control his temper and now wants to use his skills for good -- and for peace in his homeland.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/interview-with-first-openly-gay-boxer-orlando-cruz-a-866052.html#ref=rss Orlando Cruz is the world's first professional boxer to come out as gay. In a SPIEGEL interview, he describes the relief he has since felt and his hopes that it would make him a better boxer. He also shows some sympathy for his female admirers. Fri, 09 Nov 2012 12:54:00 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/interview-with-first-openly-gay-boxer-orlando-cruz-a-866052.html Orlando Cruz is the world's first professional boxer to come out as gay. In a SPIEGEL interview, he describes the relief he has since felt and his hopes that it would make him a better boxer. He also shows some sympathy for his female admirers.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/spiegel-interview-with-supersonic-austrian-skydiver-felix-baumgartner-a-864547.html#ref=rss In mid-October, Austrian skydiver 'Fearless Felix' Baumgartner broke the world records for balloon and free-fall height and became the first person to break the sound barrier without propulsion. In a SPIEGEL interview, he discusses the feat -- and how the real challenges were mental. Thu, 01 Nov 2012 13:30:00 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/spiegel-interview-with-supersonic-austrian-skydiver-felix-baumgartner-a-864547.html http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/athletes-in-exile-two-nhl-stars-play-the-lockout-in-berlin-a-863364.html#ref=rss As the National Hockey League's latest lockout drags on in America, the players are once again biding their time by playing for teams abroad. Two French-Canadian all-stars from the Philadelphia Flyers, Daniel Bričre and Claude Giroux, are handling the puck -- and exile -- quite well in Berlin. Fri, 26 Oct 2012 18:02:00 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/athletes-in-exile-two-nhl-stars-play-the-lockout-in-berlin-a-863364.html As the National Hockey League's latest lockout drags on in America, the players are once again biding their time by playing for teams abroad. Two French-Canadian all-stars from the Philadelphia Flyers, Daniel Bričre and Claude Giroux, are handling the puck -- and exile -- quite well in Berlin. ]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/kachalka-soviet-era-fitness-park-still-popular-in-kiev-ukraine-a-863216.html#ref=rss In Kiev, some sports nuts prefer to use salvaged tank chains and tires instead of barbells to beef up. At a unique open-air fitness park in the heart of the Ukrainian capital, body builders are still getting pumped up Soviet-style. A new photography book documents their efforts. Thu, 25 Oct 2012 17:56:00 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/kachalka-soviet-era-fitness-park-still-popular-in-kiev-ukraine-a-863216.html http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/new-football-league-helps-heal-afghanistan-a-863085.html#ref=rss Afghanistan's first football league is supposed to help bring peace to the country, but some players are risking their lives. Thu, 25 Oct 2012 13:09:00 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/new-football-league-helps-heal-afghanistan-a-863085.html Afghanistan's first football league is supposed to help bring peace to the country, but some players are risking their lives.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/an-interview-with-dirk-nowitzki-and-his-mentor-holger-geschwindner-a-860109.html#ref=rss Basketball star Dirk Nowitzki was but an awkward teenager when Holger Geschwindner first saw him play. But Geschwindner quickly took the young player under his wing and helped turn him into one of the best players the game has ever seen. The two spoke with SPIEGEL about the ups and downs of their relationship. Tue, 09 Oct 2012 15:53:43 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/an-interview-with-dirk-nowitzki-and-his-mentor-holger-geschwindner-a-860109.html Basketball star Dirk Nowitzki was but an awkward teenager when Holger Geschwindner first saw him play. But Geschwindner quickly took the young player under his wing and helped turn him into one of the best players the game has ever seen. The two spoke with SPIEGEL about the ups and downs of their relationship.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/mount-everest-records-deadliest-year-in-over-a-decade-a-859533.html#ref=rss This year was the deadliest on Mount Everest since 12 climbers died on the mountain in 1996. But storms and avalanches were not the culprit. Instead, congestion in the Death Zone combined with inexperience resulted in a half-dozen deaths in just one May weekend. Fri, 05 Oct 2012 15:54:00 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/mount-everest-records-deadliest-year-in-over-a-decade-a-859533.html This year was the deadliest on Mount Everest since 12 climbers died on the mountain in 1996. But storms and avalanches were not the culprit. Instead, congestion in the Death Zone combined with inexperience resulted in a half-dozen deaths in just one May weekend.]]>