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City Guide - Madrid - Sport | ||
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Sport Nothing has as much power to lift Madrileños to the height of joy or drag them into deep depression as sport - victories and tragedies are passionately recounted in the sports press: Marca and As. Fútbol (football) is the major obsession. Madrid has two vast stadiums that fill up on Saturday and Sunday afternoons during the September to May season. Atlético Madrid (now in the second division, after relegation), play at Estadio Vicente Calderón, Paseo de los Melancólicos s/n (tel: (91) 366 4707), and the European champions, Real Madrid, play at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, Calle Concha Espina and Paseo de la Castellana (tel: (91) 398 4300). Basketball (baloncesto) is second only to football in the hearts of Madrileños. The season runs from September to May, reaching its height in April. Madrid has two top teams: Estudiantes and Real Madrid. The venue for both is Palacio de los Deportes, Avenida de Felipe II (tel: (91) 401 9100 or 012 (information line)). September's La Vuelta de España is the Spanish answer to the Tour de France - the cycle race whisks around Spain before reaching Madrid, where five laps of the Castellana single out the winner. The climax of the golfing year is the Open de España (Spanish Open) held from April to June at the Club de Campo. The annual Maratón Popular de Madrid (tel: (91) 366 9701) takes place on the last Sunday in April, and finishes at Retiro Park or Plaza de Cibeles. The top-class Estadio de la Comunidad de Madrid, Avenida de Arcentales s/n (tel: (91) 580 5180), is an emblem of national pride - the Spaniards would dearly love the 2012 Olympics to be held here. Tickets to sports events and bullfights may be purchased at Localidades Galicia, Plaza del Carmen (tel: (91) 531 2732). Golf: Golf clubs tend to be expensive. Golf Olivar de la Hinojosa, Avenida de Dublin (Metro Campo de las Naciones) (tel: (91) 721 1889), charges Pta3550 for nine holes, Pta5850 for 18 holes. Beginners as well as seasoned golfers are welcome and facilities include tennis courts. Gyms: Most gyms (gymnasios) are members only but many hotels have their own gyms, or agreements with private health clubs. Madrid has some 45 city-run polideportivos (sports centres) offering wide-ranging facilities (gyms, swimming pools, tennis courts, etc), including polideportivo La Ermita, Calle Sepulvedo 3/5 (tel: (91) 470 0111). Swimming: Open-air swimming pools (piscinas) are a necessity in Madrid's summer heat, with the season running from June to mid-September. The rooftop pool in the Hotel Emperador, Gran Vía 53 (tel: (91) 547 2800), is open to non-residents (Pta3000) and offers spectacular views over the city. Information on Madrid's other public swimming pools (tel: (91) 540 3939) is available. Tennis: Madrid has many tennis clubs but most are private. Many polideportivos (see above) have tennis courts open to non-members; the standard fee per hour is Pta700. |