World City Guide

Sport

Football is ever popular and Strasbourg’s team, Le Racing club de Strasbourg (tel: (03) 9041 2222; fax: (03) 9041 2222; e-mail: webmaster@rcstrasbourg.fr; website: www.rcstrasbourg.fr ), has been doing rather well recently, climbing up to the first division in autumn 2002. The football stadium, Stade de la Meinau, rue de l’Extenwoerth (tel: (03) 8844 5544), has a capacity for 30,000 spectators.

The annual sporting highlights begin in January, with the International Fencing Tournament. May sees in the European Football Tournament – STRASCUP and the International Women’s Tennis Championship. The popular Triathlon is held in July and the season culminates in August, with the European Handball Tournament.

Tickets to major sporting events in Strasbourg are available for purchase at the Office des Sports, Quai Ernest Bévin (tel: (03) 8831 8383) or FNAC, place Kléber (tel: (03) 8852 2121).

The Hôtel de Ville, 1 place de l’Etoile (tel: (03) 8860 9090), the Office des Sports (see above) and the Centre d’Information de la Jeunesse Alsace, 7 rue des Ecrivains (tel: (03) 8837 3333; website: www.cija.org ), all can provide further information on sporting events in Strasbourg.

Fitness Centres: These include Carré Brun, 11 rue de Wissembourg (tel: 03 8832 7515), where a day of sport or pampering costs ¬18, L’Eau Vive, 29 Vieux-Marché-aux-Vins (tel: (03) 8822 3655), which costs ¬12 per day (concessions available), and La Cour de Honau, allée de la Honau, 67610 La Wantzenau (tel: (03) 8896 3344), where four hours of gym costs ¬20.

Golf: The Golf Club de Strasbourg is situated at the route du Rhin, Illkirch-Graffenstaden (tel: (03) 8866 1722; website: www.golf-strasbourg.com ). The course is open to non-members Mon-Fri 0900-1800, although those wishing to play must have a handicap of at least 35 and belong to a golf club. Weekends are for members only, or guests invited by a member. Green fees are ¬40 weekdays and ¬50 weekends. The 18-hole course, Kempferhof, 351 rue du Moulin, at Plobsheim (tel: (03) 8898 7272), is open to the public, costing ¬60 weekdays and ¬90 at the weekend. For players under 25 years, the tariff is increased by 50%. Golf International Soufflenheim, allée du Golf, Soufflenheim (tel: (03) 8805 7700; website: www.golfclub-soufflenheim.com ) has three courses (18, nine and six holes) and one practice driving range. Rates are ¬23-45 weekdays and ¬30-70 at the weekend. Only players with a handicap better than 36 are allowed to play on the 18-hole course.

Squash: A 45-minute game of squash at Centre Sportif de la Robertsau, 212 route de la Wantzenau (tel: (03) 8831 6525), costs ¬5.50 per person, with racquet hire costing ¬1.60 per person. The sports centre is open to non-members.

Swimming: Public pools include the Piscine de la Robertsau, 210 route de la Wantzenau (tel: (03) 8831 3233), and the grandiose Bains Municipaux, 10 boulevard de la Victoire (tel: (03) 8825 1758), where guests can also take a sauna or Turkish bath. The adult charge at both venues is ¬2.74 (concessions available).

Tennis: Most tennis courts belong to private clubs and require membership. However, Tennis Club de Strasbourg, 20 rue Pierre de Coubertin, in the international quarter (tel: (03) 8835 2923), has four indoor and 13 outdoor courts available for hourly hire – ¬15 off-peak period and ¬18 after 1730 weekdays and all day weekends. For information on membership of Alsace tennis clubs, visitors should contact the Ligue d’Alsace de Tennis, rue Baden Powel (tel: (03) 8827 9900).