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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 does – victories and tragedies are passionately recounted in the sports press, Marca and As. Football (fútbol) is the major obsession. Madrid has two vast stadiums that fill up on Saturday and Sunday afternoons/evenings during the September-May season. Atlético Madrid (website: www.clubatleticodemadrid.com), now promoted to the first division, plays at Estadio Vicente Calderón, Paseo de los Melancólicos (tel: (91) 366 4707), while the European champions, Real Madrid (website: www.realmadrid.es), play at Estadio Santiago Bernabéu, 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, with April marking the climax. Madrid has two top teams – Estudiantes (website: www.clubestudiantes.com) and Real Madrid (website: www.realmadrid.es). The venue for the former is Palacio de los Deportes, Avenida de Felipe II (tel: (91) 401 9100), and for the latter, Pabellón Raimundo Saporta, Paseo de la Castellana 259 (tel: (93) 417 2404). September’s La Vuelta de España is the Spanish answer to the Tour de France. This cycle race whisks its way around Spain, before reaching Madrid, where five laps of the Castellana single out the winner. Meanwhile, the climax of the golfing year is the Open de España (Spanish Open), held from April to June at the Club de Campo, Carretera de Castilla (tel: (91) 555 2010). The annual Maratón Popular de Madrid (tel: (91) 366 9701) takes place on the last Sunday in April, finishing at Retiro Park or Plaza de Cibeles. An important sporting venue is the top-class Estadio de la Comunidad de Madrid, Avenida de Arcentales (tel: (91) 580 5180), one of the proposed venues for the 2012 Olympics, should the games be awarded to the city. Tickets to sporting events, including bullfights, are available for purchase at Localidades Galicia, Plaza del Carmen (tel: (91) 531 2732. The Madrid bullring (Plaza de Toros) is at Calle de Alcalá 237 (tel: (91) 356 2200). Fitness centres: Most gyms (gymnasios) are members only, however, 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, including gyms, swimming pools and tennis courts. Polideportivo La Ermita, Calle Sepulvedo 3/5 (tel: (91) 470 0111), is one of these. Golf: Golf clubs tend to be expensive. Golf Olivar de la Hinojosa, Avenida de Dublin, on the metro Campo de las Naciones (tel: (91) 721 1889), charges approximately €24 for nine holes and €36 for 18 holes. Membership is not required and beginners and seasoned golfers are welcome. Facilities include tennis courts. Swimming: Open-air swimming pools (piscinas) are a necessity in Madrid’s summer heat, with the season running from the beginning of June to mid-September. The rooftop pool in the Hotel Emperador, Calle Gran Vía 53 (tel: (91) 547 2800), offers spectacular views over the city and is open to non-residents for €25 Monday to Friday or €35 at the weekend. One of the best outdoor municipal pools is Instalación deportiva del Canal de Isabel II, Avenida Islas Filipinas 54 (tel: (91) 533 1791), near metro Canal – open from 1100-2000, for €3. Information on Madrid’s other public swimming pools is available (tel: (91) 540 3939). Tennis: Madrid has many tennis clubs but most are private. Many polideportivos (see above) have tennis courts that are open to non-members. The standard fee per hour is €4. |
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