World City Guide

Sport

As if Athens’cultural and architectural achievements are not enough, the city can also boast the modern Olympic Games and the marathon among its lasting legacies. Panhellenic athletic contests were held in Athens from the fourth century BC and reinstated as the modern Olympic Games in 1896. After the initial disappointment of seeing the millennium Olympic Games go to Sydney, Athens is ready to welcome the Games home again in 2004. The marathon commemorates the Greek soldier Phidippides who ran 42km (26 miles) from the battlefield at Marathon to Athens, to announce Greek victory over the Persians (490BC). He delivered his one word message – ‘Nenikamen’ (we have won) – and then collapsed and died. The annual Athens Marathon retraces his footsteps from the battleground to the 1896 Olympic Stadium.

Although the Greek national team has not seen much success in recent years, football is by far the nation’s favourite sport. In the domestic league, the local giants are Panathanaks (website: www.pao.gr) and AEK (website: www.aek.com) in Athens and Olympiaks (website: www.olympiakos.gr) in Piraeus. The season runs from September to June and most major football matches are played at the Athens Olympic Stadium, Athens Olympic Sports Complex, Maroussi. Basketball and volleyball are also hugely popular.

Individual venue ticket offices sell tickets for national sporting events, while SEGAS, Syngrou 137 (tel: 21093 59346; website: www.segas.gr), sells tickets to international events. The Olympic Committee (tel: 21020 04000; website: www.athens.olympic.org) can provide information on the forthcoming 2004 Olympic Games.

The General Secretariat of Sports, Panepistimiou 25 (tel: 21032 94227; website: www.sport.gov.gr), provides information on sport in Athens.

Golf: There is a professional (18-hole, 72-par) golf course at Glyfada. The Glyfada Golf Course, Kypros/15 Panopis, Glyfada (tel: 21089 46820; website: www.glyfadagolf.gr), is open Tuesday to Sunday from 0730 until sunset and Monday from 1300 to sunset. Membership is not required and admission costs 70 on weekdays and 82 on weekends. A handicap card is requested.

Horseracing: The Faliro Ippodromo racetrack is located at the end of Syngrou (tel: 21094 26331). There is racing on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 1700 in summer and from 1500 in winter.

Riding: The Attikos Riding Club (tel: 21066 26429) is based at Alopekis 5A, Kolonki. Running: The Athens Marathon (website: www.athensmarathon.com) provides the opportunity to run along the original marathon route. It takes place each year in November and details can be obtained from SEGAS, Syngrou 137 (tel: 21093 59346; website: www.segas.gr).

Sailing: The Greek National Tourist Organisation website (www.gnto.gr, click on ‘Marine Tourism’) has a list of over 50 charter companies offering yachts for hire. Information on races and clubs is available from the Hellenic Sailing Federation (tel: 21032 35560).

Scuba diving: The Aegean Dive Center in Glyfada (tel: 21089 45409; website: www.adc.gr), organises scuba diving tuition (with English-speaking instructors) and one-day diving trips along the coast between Glyfada and Cape Sounion.

Swimming: The best beaches are located at Glyfada, Vouliagmni and Varkiza (see Excursions).

Tennis: Tennis courts are open to visitors at the Glyfada Golf Course, Kypros/15 Panopis, Glyfada (tel: 21089 46820). The Athens Tennis Club (tel: 21092 32872) also welcomes non-members 0800–1400 on weekdays.

Windsurfing: All GNTO-run beaches have windsurfing equipment for hire. The Hellenic Windsurfing Association (tel: 21032 30068) can provide more information.