SPORTS
Greece, as we all know, has a long tradition in
athletics. A variety of spectator sports and recreation await the visitor to
Athens. Soccer heads the list as the nation's favorite sport followed by
basketball and volleyball. Track and field is also popular. Most major
soccer matches are played at the beautiful Athens Olympic Stadium which can
seat 78,000 spectators. During the summer months, international soccer
exhibition matches are held with the soccer season kicking off in September
until June. Most of the National Tourist Organization of Greece (EOT) public
beaches and swimming pools in the Athens area offer full sea sports
facilities such as dressing rooms, piers, canoes, pedalos, fields for
various games, tennis courts, volley and basketball courts, children's
playgrounds, a pavillion, pastryshop, snack-bar, restaurant, self service
and discos.
BEACHESAthens is one
of the few cities of the world that is also a beach resort and it takes only
minutes to reach the seaside suburbs with their excellent beaches.
All beaches are open to the public, although several beaches charge an
admission fee. These organized beaches provide changing rooms, showers,
umbrellas, chairs, coffee shops, watersports, sports facilities and parking
space.
ALIMOS: Tel. 210-982-7064.
VOULAS "A": Tel. 210-895-3248.
VOULAS "B": Tel. 210-895-9569.
VARKIZA: Tel. 210-897-2102.
VOULIAGMENI: Tel. 210-896-0906.
SWIMMING
For those who find going to the seashore a chore, there are two major
hotels near the center of Athens which offer their swimming pools to the
public.
The St. George Lycabettus Hotel at 2 Kleomenous Str., Tel. 210 729-0711-9,
is open with it's pool from April.
The Caravel Hotel at 21 Vas. Alexandrou Avenue, Tel. 210 729-0731, is open
with its pool daily from 9 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Admission includes the use of
showers, a towel and a chair. Anything from the pool side snack bar is
extra.
WATER SKIING
VOULIAGMENI BAY: Karagiorgou School, Tel. 210 896-0939. Kassidokosta
School, Tel. 010 896-0820. Lipiterakou School, Tel. 210 896-0743. Vouliagmeni NVC, Tel.
210 896-2416.
VARKIZA: Vitoratos School, Tel. 210 897-0040.
FISHING
Greek waters provide ideal fishing grounds for the amateur angler,
especially during the summer. Boats and fishing tackle can be found in
Piraeus at the Moutsopoulou Quay (Akti Moutsopoulou), where individuals
licensed by the Port Authority, rent small craft by the hour. For further
information apply to the Amateur Anglers and Maritime Sports Club, Akti
Moutsopoulou, Piraeus, Tel. 210 451-5731.
DIVING
For information on submarine activities with driver's breathing
apparatus and depressuring chambers can be gotten from the Hellenic
Federation of Underwater Activities, Aghios Kosmas, Ellinikon,
Tel. 210 981-9961.
WINDSURFING
At all the beaches organized by EOT and at several water ski
training centers, there are windsurfs for hire. For more information call
the Hellenic Windsurfing Association, 7 Filellinon St., Athens,
Tel. 210 323-0068.
GOLFING
In Greece, a lot of golf courses have been developed all over the
country. The most of them provide everything the discerning golfers could
wish for and guarantee unforgettable sunshine golfing holidays. Besides the
golf clubs, there are hotels providing superbly designed and constructed
golf courses. The main golf clubs, which are considered to be among the
finest in Europe, are the following:
GLYFADA GOLF COURSE in Athens, Tel.210 894-6820, Fax.
210 894-3721. Open
all year round.
AFANTOU GOLF COURSE in Rhodes, Tel. 22410 51255, Fax. 22410 52373.
PORTO CARRAS GOLF COURSE in Chalkidiki. Tel. 23750 71381, Fax.
23750
71229.
CORFU GOLF COURSE in Corfu, Tel. & Fax. 26610 94220.
PORTO ELOUNTA MARE GOLF COURSE in Crete, Tel. 28410 41903, Fax. 28410
41889.
TENNIS
The EOT beaches listed above all have tennis courts which can be used by
tourists. Other courts in the Athens area can be found at the following
places:
AGHIOS KOSMAS: Tel. 210 981-1040.
ATHENS TENNIS CLUB: 2 Vas. Olga Ave., Athens, Tel. 210 923-2872.
KALAMAKI MARINE CLUB: Kalamaki, Tel. 210 981-0471.
PANELLINIOS GYMNASTIC CLUB: 26 Mavromateon
St., Athens, Tel. 210 823-3720.
SAILING
Ideal weather conditions for sailing prevail in the Athens area. Further
information can be obtained from the Hellenic Sailing Federation, 15A
Xenofondos St., Athens, Tel. 210 323-5560.
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