World City Guide

Sport

Sporting stars from the continent will descend on Rio in 2007, when the city hosts the 15th Pan American Games. There is a lot of development work going on to accommodate this regional version of the Olympic Games. But football remains Brazil’s main sport and is a national obsession – even more so nowadays, following the national team’s fifth World Cup win in 2002. Introduced by Scottish railway engineers in the 1890s, the sport soared in popularity and today, for youngsters living in the favelas, football could prove to be their passport to better lives. Pelé (arguably the greatest player of all time), Rivaldo and Ronaldo are just some of the local heroes.

In Rio, the most important teams are Flamengo (website: www.flamengo.com.br), Vasco (website: www.crvascodagama.com), Fluminense (website: www.canalfluminense.com.br) and Botafogo (website: www.botafogo.com). These four teams feature prominently in the national league and cup tournament. The teams and the Brazilian national side play their matches at Maracanã Stadium, Rua Prof. Eurico Rabelo, Maracanã (tel: (21) 2568 9962; website: www.suderj.rj.gov.br). These are raucous and entertaining affairs. Enthusiastic crowds, drums, flags and endless ticker tape accompany the skill and excitement of the footballers on the pitch.

Tickets cost around R$10 for stand seats, with the price rising for Championship and International fixtures. These are available at the gates on match days. Confederação Brasileira de Futebol (CBF), Condomínio Rio Office Park, Rua Victor Civita 66, Barra da Tijuca (tel: (21) 3535 9610/81; website: www.cbfnews.bol.com.br), can provide information on Rio’s match schedules.

With its vast beaches, Rio is ideal for beach and watersports and the citizens fully exploit the natural resources. Football, beach volley and foot volley are constantly taking place and there is a plethora of tournaments and championships. Hiking, fishing, diving, boating, rowing, body boarding, surfing and windsurfing are also popular and there is ample opportunity to cycle, rollerblade and jog.

Fitness Centres: Fitness is an obsession in Rio. As well as exercise stations on the beaches and around the Lagoa, there are indoor gyms on almost every street, many of which are open to non-members. Of the exclusive clubs, Estaçaó do Corpo Health Club & Spa, Avenida Borges de Medeiros 1426, Lagoa (tel: (21) 2219 3134), is one of the best. Access to its gym, dance studio, spinning centre, running track, soccer pitch, swimming pool and sauna are available at daily or weekly rates.

Golf: Players can test their handicap at four local clubs. The first, Gávea Golf Club, Estrada da Gávea 800, São Conrado (tel: (21) 3322 4141), offers a field of 18 holes for R$250 basic green fees. Non-members can play at the invitation of a member. The second, Itanhangá Golf Club, Estrada da Barra 2005, Barra da Tijuca (tel: (21) 2494 2507; website: www.itanhanga.com.br), is a 27-hole course that is only open to members; non-members can play at the invitation of a member. The third, the Golden Green Golf Club, Avenida Canal de Marapendi 2901, Barra da Tijuca (tel: (21) 2434 0696), is a golf clinic with a three-par, six-hole course open to outside players for R$300 basic fees. Golf in Rio, Avenida Benvindo de Novaes 1001, Recreio dos Bandeirantes, (tel: (21) 3411 9004; website: www.golfinrio.com.br) is a golf school open to the public with a large course (R$50), a driving range (R$12 for 40 balls) and putting greens (R$10).

Hang-gliding and Paragliding: A tandem flight from one of Rio’s steep mountains is an increasingly popular activity with tourists. There are many pilots and companies offering this, including Fly With Me (tel: (21) 2522 5586 or 9687 0664 (mobile); website: www.guia4ventos.com.br), Hang Gliding Tour (tel: (21) 2422 6531 or 9343 3380 (mobile); website: www.hanglidingtour.com.br) and Superfly (tel: (21) 3322 2286 or 9887 6084 (mobile); website: www.riosuperfly.com.br). Prices start from around R$200.

Tennis: Public tennis courts are situated around the Lagoa. Rio Sport Center has two locations with tennis courts, at Avenida Ayrton Senna 2541, Barra da Tijuca (tel: (21) 3325 6644; website: www.riosportcenter.com.br), and Rua Visconde de Pirajá 161, Ipanema (tel: (21) 2267 4192).