PSG's coronation, bad weather in Belgium, and the weekend's sports news
Paris Saint-Germain has won the Champions League, a title that coach Luis Enrique considers fully deserved after an intense and difficult season. To celebrate this historic victory, around 20,000 fans gathered on the Champs-Élysées in Paris, while others followed the match on giant screens at the Parc des Princes in a festive atmosphere marked by fireworks.
However, the evening was also marked by tensions in the French capital. More than 200 people were arrested by the police following damage to vehicles and businesses, including a bakery and a restaurant. On the losing side, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta shared his sadness and asked his players to accept this pain to come back even stronger next season.
In Belgium, the weather caused significant damage this Saturday. Violent thunderstorms and torrential rain caused flooding in the Charleroi region, particularly affecting the towns of Aiseau-Presles, Châtelineau, Lodelinsart, Roux, and Gilly. Several roads had to be closed to traffic due to rising water levels.
Picardy Wallonia was not spared either. Emergency services in Tournai, Antoing, and Lessines had to intervene numerous times following a deluge of rain and hail. These extreme weather conditions even forced the organizers of the Doudou, in Mons, to cancel the traditional torchlight procession as a safety measure, a very rare decision for this popular event.
In the field of rugby, the Soignies club experienced a historic moment by becoming Belgian champions for the first time in its history. After several failures in the final in previous years, the team from Hainaut finally clinched the title by beating Boitsfort with a score of 30 to 22.
At the Roland-Garros tournament, Belgian player Raphaël Collignon was eliminated in the round of 32 after a very close match that ended in a super tie-break. Despite the disappointment of the defeat, the Liège native said he was proud of his level of play and believes he now has a place among the best players in major international tournaments.
Finally, the Women's Tour of Italy began with a dramatic turn of events. Dutch cyclist Lorena Wiebes, who had won the first stage, was disqualified because her bike did not comply with technical regulations. It is therefore the Italian Elisa Balsamo who takes the stage victory and the first pink jersey of this edition.