World City Guide

Sport

Nothing has as much power to lift Madrileos to the height of joy or drag them into deep depression as sport does – victories and tragedies are passionately recounted in the sports dailies, Marca and As. Football (ftbol) is the major obsession. Madrid has two vast stadiums that fill up on Saturday and Sunday evenings during the September-May season. Atltico Madrid (website: www.clubatleticodemadrid.com), now promoted to the first division, plays at Estadio Vicente Caldern, Paseo Virgen del Puerto 67 (tel: (91) 366 4707), while the European champions, Real Madrid (website: www.realmadrid.com), play at Estadio Santiago Bernabu, Calle Concha Espina Paseo de la Castellana (tel: (91) 398 4300 or 902 271 707). Another important sporting venue is the top-class Estadio de la Comunidad de Madrid, ‘La Peineta’, Avenida de Arcentales (tel: (91) 720 2400), one of the proposed venues for the 2012 Olympics, should the games be awarded to the city.

Basketball (baloncesto) is second only to football in the hearts of Madrileos. 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.com). The venue for the former is Palacio Vistalegre, Paseo Vista Alegre (tel: (91) 422 0708), and for the latter, Pabelln Raimundo Saporta, Paseo de la Castellana 259 (tel: (93) 398 4300).

The enthusiasm for sport does not stop at simply watching and cheering; many Madrileos partake in the annual Maratn Popular de Madrid (tel: (91) 366 9701), on the last Sunday in April, finishing at Retiro Park/Plaza de Cibeles. Another big event is September’s La Vuelta de Espaa, the Spanish answer to the Tour de France, a cycle race that whisks its way around Spain before reaching Madrid, where five laps of the Castellana single out the winner.

Tickets to most sporting events are available either from the separate venues or from Localidades Galicia, Plaza del Carmen (tel: (91) 531 2732 or 5319 131; website: www.eol.es/lgalicia).

Bullfighting: The bloodthirsty sport of bullfighting takes place at the Madrid bullring, Plaza de Toros Monumental de las Ventas, Calle de Alcal 237 (Tel: (91) 356 2200; website: www.las-ventas.com). There is a whole range of prices, depending on what type of bullfight is on (with horses or without), which toreros are featuring, but most importantly whether your seat in the sun or in the shade, with top prices for the shade. The row is also very important, not too near the front, not too high up, typical prices range from 1.85 to 111. Another bullring is in the Plaza Cubierta de Vista Alegre, Vista Alegre (tel: (914) 220 780).

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 Municipal Chamartn, Plaza de Per (tel: (91) 350 1223), 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 17 for nine holes and 41.50 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 Va 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 Instalacin Deportiva del Canal de Isabel II, Avenida Islas Filipinas 54 (tel: (91) 533 1791), near metro Canal – open from 1100-2000, with admission costing 3. Information on Madrid’s other public swimming pools is available from Instituto Municipal de Deportes – IMD (tel: (91) 540 3939).

Tennis: Madrid has many tennis clubs but most are private. Many polideportivos (see Fitness Centres above) have tennis courts that are open to non-members. A central polideportivos is Instalacion Deportivo del Canal Isabel II, Avenida Islas Filipinas 54 (tel: (91) 533 1791). The standard fee per hour is 4.