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City Guide - Sofia - Sport | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Sport Bulgaria's favourite sport is football and the two top teams, CSKA Sofia and Levski Sofia, both hail from the capital. The football season kicks off in mid-August, takes a break during January and February due to harsh winter conditions, then continues through to mid-May. Teams usually play on Sunday afternoons, although some big matches take place on Saturdays. Tickets are on sale at booths outside the grounds on the day of the match. Prices are generally cheap, but vary depending on who is playing. The two main stadiums are Vassil Levski and Stadion CSKA (Bulgarian Army Stadium), both situated in Borisova Gradina (Boris's Park), where Sofia's principal public sports facilities are also located. Although international matches are usually played at Vassil Levski, during 2001 it will be closed for reconstruction, so they will be hosted at either Stadion CSKA, or the Gerena Stadium in the Hadji Dimitur district. Fitness centres: The main gyms in Sofia are: Athletic at 9A Oborishte Ulica (tel: (02) 943 3768); Fitness Centre at 75 Vassil Levski Boulevard (tel: (088) 215 335), and Greta Sport Fitness Complex at 4 Arsenalska Ulica (tel: (02) 653 015). The latter incorporates the Spartak Swimming Complex, with both indoor and outdoor pools. Golf: Golf is a new sport in Bulgaria and as yet has few followers. Golf Club Air Sofia, 6 Septemvri 1, Ihtiman (tel: (0724) 3530; website: www.airsofia.com/golf.htm), 50km (31 miles) southeast of Sofia, along the E-80, is Bulgaria's first golf club. The 18-hole course opened in June 2000. A day's play costs Lv100 (Lv60 after 1800). Additional facilities include tennis courts, an outdoor swimming pool and riding stables. Hiking: Mount Vitosha, 30 minutes south of the city centre, offers great opportunities for hiking and skiing. From spring to autumn, Sofians come here to walk the clearly signed mountain paths, and from late-December to mid-March it is possible to ski. Bus 61 from Ovcha Kupel bus station in the city centre goes to Zlatni Mostove recreation centre. From here it is possible to reach the peak, Cherni Vruh (2290m/7513ft) in two to three hours. Swimming: In summer, the Banya Maria Luiza outdoor pool in Borisova Gradina is open to the public (0900-1800), at a cost of Lv4. For something a little more luxurious, Castle Hotel Hrankov, 53 Krusheva Gradina, Dragalevtsi (tel: (02) 91909; website: www.hrankov-bg.com), at the foot of Vitosha Mountain, has both indoor and outdoor pools open to non-residents at a cost of Lv12. There is also a well-equipped sports centre with a gym, sauna, squash and tennis courts. Tennis: Public tennis courts can be found at Olympica, Borisova Gradina (tel: (02) 971 2090). |
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