World Travel Guide

City Guide  - Istanbul  - Sport
Sport


Turkish people are absolutely fanatic about football, and during the August to May season, success locally or internationally for any of the three top teams, Galatasaray (red and yellow banners), Fenerbahçe (blue and yellow) or Be?ikta? (black and white), can mean shotguns fired in the air and car horns hooting all night. Galatasaray's prestigious UEFA Cup win in May 2000 was a major source of pride. Most Turkish fans don't drink so although games and their aftermath can be rowdy and loud they are usually safe. However, national pride is very strong and visiting foreign fans should be extremely careful of causing offence. The main stadium is the Inönü near Taksim Square. Basketball is also popular since Efes Pilsen won the European Radivoj Korac cup in 1996. Horseracing takes place at the Veli Efendi track in Bak?rköy on Wednesdays and at weekends, although betting is more popular than attending. Fitness centres, golf, tennis and swimming pools, however, are strictly middle-class pursuits, with clubs tending to be in the suburbs and expensive. In summer, there are yacht regattas in the Sea of Marmara.

Fitness centres:
The Dorint Park Plaza, 23 Topçu Caddesi in Taksim (tel: (212) 254 5100), is a complete sports facility offering swimming, sauna, massage, jacuzzi and work-out rooms, free to hotel guests but membership available to non-residents. The Marmara Hotel GYM in Taksim (tel: (212) 251 4696), has the latest range of cardiovascular and weight-training equipment, as well as step, aerobic and yoga classes, membership also available to non-residents. Sports International, at the Ataköy Marina, Sahil Yolu, on the way to the airport (tel: (212) 274 0668 or 274 1079) is considered the best-equipped and varied sports facility in the city, offering tennis, outdoor and indoor swimming pools, squash courts and personal training programmes.

Golf:
There are several international golf centres on the outskirts of Istanbul, including the swish and expensive Kemer Country Club past Eyüp (tel: (212) 239 7913). In the city, however, the nine-hole Istanbul Golf Club, in 4 Levent (tel: (212) 264 0742), has been going for a century and is one of the oldest in Europe, but is for members and guests only.

Riding:
The Istanbul Riding Club, in Maslak (tel: (212) 264 1404), offers horses for hire as well as instruction.

Sailing:
Istanbul's main yacht marina is at Fenerbahçe on the Asian side of the city, and the Fenerbahçe Sailing Club can be found here (tel: (216) 336 0633).

Tennis:
There are two private tennis courts in the suburban coastal village of Istinye, the ENKA Sports Centre (tel: (212) 276 5084) and TED (tel: (212) 262 0168).



Copyright © 2001 Columbus Publishing
    
GENERAL
City Overview
City Statistics
Cost of Living
 
GETTING THERE
Air
Water
Road
Rail
 
GETTING AROUND
Getting Around
 
BUSINESS
Business
 
SIGHTSEEING
Sightseeing
Key Attractions
Further Distractions
Tours of the City
Excursions
 
ENTERTAINMENT
Nightlife
Sport
Shopping
Culture
Special Events