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Sport

  Paris, Sport

Parisians generally prefer to watch sport rather than participate, although the annual Paris Marathon in April is an exception. The major spectator event, however, takes place in late July when swarms of cyclists hurl down avenue des Champs‐Elysées, which is lined with crowds, in the final stages of the Tour de France. The purpose‐built Stade de France, rue Francis de Pressensé in St‐Denis, 16th (tel: (01) 5593 0000; ), has become the venue for international football matches and rugby Six Nations’ Cup matches.

Meanwhile, domestic football matches take place at the Parc des Princes, 86 rue Regnault, 13th (tel: (08) 2507 5078; ), the base for the first‐division Paris football team Paris‐SG (St‐Germain) and Le Racing rugby team. The sports venue for everything from ballroom dancing to judo is the Palais Omnisports de Paris‐Bercy (POPB), 8 boulevard Bercy, 12th (tel: (01) 4002 6060). The major horseracing events – the Prix de la République and the Grand Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe – take place in October in the Bois de Boulogne. L’Officiel des Spectacles details sports events and Le Guide du Sport à Paris, available at tourist offices and town halls, lists sports facilities. Allo Sports, 25 boulevard Bourdon, 4th (tel: (01) 4276 5454), offers information on municipal facilities.

Tickets for sporting events can be purchased online ( or www.ticketclick.fr).

Fitness centres: A number of companies (such as Moving and Gymnasium) dominate the gym scene in Paris but these tend to be open to members only. Gyms open for one‐off visits are listed in the Squash section below.

Golf: Golf Disneyland Paris, 77 Marne‐la‐Vallée (tel: (01) 6045 6890), 32km (20 miles) east of Paris, has a 27‐hole course open all year round from 0830 at weekends and 0900 on weekdays. On weekdays, 18 holes cost &Euro;32, this rises to &Euro;37 at weekends; yearly membership is also available.

Squash: Squash Montmartre, 14 rue Achille Martinet, 18th (tel: (01) 4255 3830; ), has four courts, saunas, fitness equipment and a restaurant. It charges &Euro;10 per person per half‐hour. Club Quartier Latin, 19 rue de Pontoise, 5th (tel: (01) 5542 7788), charges &Euro;14 for a day pass.

Swimming: The underground Piscine Suzanne‐Berlioux, Les Halles, 10 place de la Rotonde, 1st (tel: (01) 4236 9844), is extremely central and open daily, costing &Euro;3.80 per person. Aquaboulevard, 4 rue Louis‐Armand, 15th (tel: (01) 4060 1010; ), has a selection of indoor and outdoor swimming pools open daily. Admission costs &Euro;20 (concessions available).

Tennis: To play on municipal courts, application for a Carte Paris‐Tennis should be made at the Mairie; alternatively visitors can simply turn up and hope for the best. Courts cost about &Euro;6 per hour. There are also private clubs, which often charge high membership fees. Forest Hill Tennis at Aquaboulevard (see Swimming above) charges &Euro;20 per visit and is open daily.