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Sports |
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Athletics
The major athletics event is the annual Ivo van Damme Memorial
IAHF Grand Prix (telephone number: (02) 878 2025) held
in the Stade Roi Baudouin in late August/early September. Amateurs
take part in the Brussels 20km (12-mile) circular
race held annually in May/June, which starts and finishes at the
Esplanade du Cinquantenaire (telephone number: (02) 511 9000).
Cycling
Belgium has an impressive record in the cycling world and Eddy
Merckx did a fine PR job for the country by repeatedly
winning the Tour de France in the 1960s and 1970s.
His glory still lives on, celebrated annually in the Eddy
Merckx Grand Prix, on the last Sunday of August. A more
amateur affair follows the same 22km (14-mile) trip from the Gare
du Nord to Heysel (telephone number: (02)
502 7355).
Football
Brussels’ football clubs, RWDM
and Union St-Gilloise, have their fans but RSC
Anderlecht has a faithful following who support the team at
Stade Constant Vanden Stock, Avenue Théo
Verbeeck 2 (telephone number: (02) 522 1539). Anderlecht frequently
is at the top of the home league and sometimes makes it into the
Champions League. Passions were raised to fever pitch in the European
Championships 2000, which was hosted jointly by Belgium
and Holland in a renamed and reconstructed stadium, Stade
Roi Baudouin, Heysel (telephone number: (02) 474 3940).
The stadium hosts the Belgian national team’s home games and
the cup final. Tickets to football matches are available through
Maison du Football (telephone number: (02) 477
1211).
Fitness Centres
The vast Physical Golden Club, Place du Chatelain
33 (telephone number: (02) 539 3036), offers weights machines and
fitness classes and has the added kudos of being the place where
Jean-Claude van Damme started his action movie
career. Martial arts classes are very popular. The day pass costs
€25. For the ultra well-heeled, Champneys
(telephone number: (02) 542 4666/67) has opened up next to the Conran
Hotel, 71B Avenue Louise. A ‘spa discover day’ costs
from €105.
Golf
The 18-hole Royal Amicale Anderlecht Golf Club,
Rue Scholle 1 (telephone number: (02) 521 1687), is located within
Brussels itself. The club charges €33 for a day of golfing
during the week and €50 during weekends, when prior reservation
is recommended. Membership is not required.
Brabantse
Golf, Steenwagenstraat 11, Melsbroek (telephone number:
(02) 751 8205), is situated close to the airport. Membership is
required and green fees are €30 weekdays and €45 at the
weekend.
There are 2 18-hole courses at Royal Zoute Golf Club,
Caddiespad 14, Knokke-le-Zoute (telephone number: (050) 623 029),
located 100km (60 miles) north of Brussels in the seaside town of
Knokke-le-Zoute. Visitors are welcome and the green fees are €55–95,
depending on the handicap of the player. Alternatively, there are
11 courses around Waterloo, just south of Brussels,
offering golfing opportunities through a programme called Golf
Pass Walloon Brabant.
The Fédération Royal Belge de Golf
(telephone number: (02) 672 2389) can provide information on Belgium’s
golf courses. Several golfing packages are available in a programme
created by Martins Hotels (website: www.passbw.com).
Swimming
There are plenty of pools in the sports centre in Brussels. The
one at the Centre Sportif de Woluwe St-Pierre,
Avenue Salomé 2 (telephone number: (02) 762 8522) is Olympic-sized.
Océade,
Bruparck (telephone number: (02) 478 4944), within splashing distance
of Mini-Europe, is a modern ‘fun’ baths.
Tennis
and squash
The Centre Sportif de Woluwe St-Pierre, Avenue
Salomé 2 (telephone number: (02) 762 8522), has squash, badminton
and tennis courts. |
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