Sport
Baseball is as popular in Cuba as in America and every piece of wasteland is turned into an improvised pitch. The national team has won many international championships, including the World Championship, often against its arch rival, the USA. The National Baseball Series features teams from each province and is played between October and March. Games take place on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday evenings, as well as Saturday and Sunday afternoons. In Havana, matches are held at the Estadio Latinoamericano, Habana del Este (tel: (7) 706 526). Tickets can only be purchased at the venue on the day. Cuba is not renowned for its performance internationally in football but it is followed locally and the local team – Cuidad de le Habana – play at the Estadio Pedro Marrero, Playa, every Wednesday and Sunday.
Boxing is another popular spectator sport and fights are often held on Friday evenings at Kid Chocolate on Paseo de Marti, opposite the Capitolio and next to the Payret Cinema. Other popular sports are volleyball and basketball, which can be seen at Sala Polivalente Ramon Fonst on Avenida Independencia, Vedado, opposite the main bus station.
Fishing: Fishing is a favourite sport in Cuba – enjoyed as it is by Castro, as well as Hemingway of course. Small boats can be rented privately from Marina Hemingway, west of Havana, for about US$25 per day or through one of the hotels there. Deep-sea fishing is very popular in Cuba for tourists and trips can be booked from hotel tourist desks.
Golf: About 30 minutes from Havana is the nine-hole Club de Golf de la Habana, Carretera de Vento, Capdevila, Boyeros (tel: (7) 333 918), which also has tennis courts and a swimming pool. Green and caddy fees are about US$50. Other golf courses of international standard are opening up in all the resort areas – the nearest to Havana being at Varadero.
Leisure centres: Many of the centres throughout the city are attached to hotels and are for hotel residents and members only. The Gimnasio Integral, between Calle 17 and Calle E, Vedado (tel: (7) 329 087), is well equipped and has a minimal registration fee.
Swimming: Many of the large hotels in Havana, particularly the joint-venture, modern ones, have pools that can be used by non-residents for a fee.
Tennis: Public courts are available at Complejo Deportivos – Canchas de Tennis, Avenida Monumental Km 4.5, Villa Panamericana (tel: (7) 951 561).
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Sport