World City Guide

Sport

Football is increasingly popular in Hanover, now that the local side is back in the Bundesliga (German first division) after a 13-year wait. Hannover96 (tel: (0511) 282 096; website: www.hannover96.de) won the second division trophy in season 2001-2002 and are keen to solidify their position in the top flight. The team plays at Niedersachsenstadion, Clausewitzstrasse 2.

Ice hockey is another favourite in the city and the Hannover Scorpions (website: www.hannover-scorpions.de), a successful ice hockey side, who perform in the DEL, the national ice hockey league. The scorpions battle it out at the Eislaufhalle, Am Freizeitpark Mellendorf (tel: (05130) 95940).

The latest sporting trends in Hanover are inline-skating, trail-biking, street soccer, beach volleyball and free climbing, which are all carried out at any possible outdoor venue.

Tickets to sporting events are available from Kartenshop, Georgensytrasse 46 (tel: (0180) 500 3737; fax: (0511) 321 322; e-mail: kartenshop@hannover.de; website: www.kartenshop.hannover.de).

Fitness centres: For health and body conscious visitors, fitness centres are plentiful and easily available in the city. Central ones include Materia Fitness, Friesenstrasse 14 (tel: (0511) 344 788), featuring Far Eastern trends such as Tae Bo classes, the women-only LA Fit, Weddigenufer 2 (tel: (0511) 17772), and Mondial, Kurt-Schumacher-Strasse 27 (tel: (0511) 15727), which is small but trendy.

Golf: Golfpark Steinhuder Meer, Vor der Mühle 10A, Neustadt (tel: (05036) 2778), is open to all, however, visiting players must have a valid DGV (Deutsche Golf Verband) pass (tel: (611) 990 200; e-mail: info@dgv.gof.de, for information). Daily rates are ¬25-30 (weekdays/weekends) on the Mardorfer 18-hole course and ¬10.50-20 on the Orchard nine-hole course. Tuition for 30 minutes (¬25) or one hour (¬40) is also available.

Roller-blading: Behind the Maschsee bathing beach, Rudolf-von Bennigsen-Ufer 81, lies the Inline-Biergarten, which combines the traditional attractions of a beer garden with a skate park and inline-skating school.

Swimming: If the Maschsee looks unappealing, indoor swimming and sauna facilities are available at the Misburger Bad, Ludwig-Jahn Strasse 1 (tel: (0511) 1683 2279), Nord-Ost Bad, Podbielskistrasse 301 (tel: (0511) 1684 8300), Stadionbad, Arthur-Menge-Ufer 5A (tel: (0511) 1684 5411), Stöckener Bad, Hogrefestrasse 45 (tel: (0511) 1684 9335), and Vahrenwalder Bad, Vahrenwalder Strasse 100 (tel: (0511) 1684 4629). Open-air swimming can be enjoyed at Kleefelder Bad, Haubergstrasse 17 (tel: (0511) 559 618).

Tennis: The Sportpark am Maschsee, Ferdinand-Wilhelm-Fricke Weg 3 (tel: (0511) 131 9999), boast nine tennis courts as well as other sport facilities.