Nothing has as much power to lift Madrilenos to the height of joy or drag them into deep depression as sport - victories and tragedies are passionately recounted in the sports press,
Marca and As.
Football (futbol) is the major obsession. Madrid has two vast stadiums that fill up on Saturday and Sunday afternoons/evenings during the September to June season.
Atletico Madrid (website: www.clubatleticodemadrid.com), now in the second division (after relegation), play at
Estadio Vicente Calderon, Paseo de los Melancolicos (tel: (91) 366 4707), and the European champions,
Real Madrid (website: www.realmadrid.es), play at
Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, Calle Concha Espina and Paseo de la Castellana (tel: (91) 398 4300).
Basketball (baloncesto) is second only to football in the hearts of Madrilenos. 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.es). The venue for the former is Palacio de los Deportes, Avenida de Felipe II (tel: (91) 401 9100), and for the latter, Pavilion de Real Madrid, Paseo de la Castellana 259 (tel: (93) 417 2404).
September's La Vuelta de Espana is the Spanish answer to the Tour de France. This cycle race whisks around Spain before reaching Madrid, where five laps of the Castellana single out the winner. Meanwhile, the climax of the golfing year is the Open de Espana (Spanish Open) held from April to June at the Club de Campo, Carretera de Castilla (tel: (91) 555 2010). The annual Maraton Popular de Madrid (tel: (91) 366 9701) takes place on the last Sunday in April, and finishes at Retiro Park or Plaza de Cibeles. Another important sporting venue is the top-class Estadio de la Comunidad de Madrid, Avenida de Arcentales (tel: (91) 580 5180), one of the proposed venues for the 2012 Olympics, should the games be awarded to Madrid.
Tickets to sports events and bullfights can be purchased at Localidades Galicia, Plaza del Carmen (tel: (91) 531 2732).
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 La Ermita, Calle Sepulvedo 3/5 (tel: (91) 470 0111), 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 EUR24 for nine holes and EUR36 for 18 holes. 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 Via 53 (tel: (91) 547 2800), is open to non-residents (EUR19 per day or EUR27 per week) and offers spectacular views over the city. One of the best outdoor municipal pools is Instalacion deportiva del Canal de Isabel II, Avenida Islas Filipinas 54 (tel: (91) 533 1791), near Metro Canal - open from 1100-2000 (EUR3). Information on Madrid's other public swimming pools is available (tel: (91) 540 3939).
Tennis
Madrid has many tennis clubs but most are private. Many polideportivos (see above) have tennis courts that are open to non-members. The standard fee per hour is EUR4.
