Sport is an essential part of Genevois life, especially skiing, due to the city’s location near the Alps. The well-known Swiss resorts, such as Gstaad, Zermatt and Crans-Montana, or the French towns of Chamonix and Val d’Isère, are just a couple of hours away. Lake Geneva is used for sailing, rowing, water-skiing and swimming, while the Rhône and Arve rivers allow rafting and canoeing. Horse riding is very popular and the Jura Mountains are an excellent terrain for hiking and biking.
Main events include-International Triathlon Competition in September and a string of international regattas on the lake, which includes the Bol d’Or in June, Europe’s largest inland-water sailing race, attracting over 600 boats from all over the world. December is the month for popular local sports events, such as Escalade Run, a 7-kilometre (4-mile) run through the Old Town, and the Coupe de Noël, a swimming competition in the icy lake.
It is only in these last few years that Geneva has become a force to be reckoned with in Swiss football. Servette FC Genève were Swiss champions in 1998/1999 and won the Cup in 2000/2001, however, only finished 5th in the League and fourth in the 2001/2002 Cup.
A new stadium, Stadt de Genève (e-mail: info@stade.ch), with a commercial and leisure centre is being constructed south of the city centre, in the Route de Jeunes, near Avenue Vibert (just before the entrance to Autoroute 1a). The first phase, the business and leisure centre, was opened on 13th November, while Servette FC played its first game at this 30,000 seat stadium on 4th March 2003. The official opening was slated for the year 2003. In the meanwhile, Servette FC used to play at the Stade de Charmilles, Chemin des Sports (tel: (022) 340 2717).
Tickets to sporting events can be purchased from the relevant venues.
Fitness Centres
Silhouette Eaux-Vives, Route de Frontenex 39B (tel: (022) 786 1822), is open Mondays to Fridays 0800-2200 and Saturdays and Sundays 1000-1900. Silhouette Wilson SA, Rue J-A Gautier 12 (tel: (022) 732 8050), is open Mondays to Fridays 0900-2100 and Saturdays and Sundays 1000-1700.
Golf
Le Golf Club de Genève, Route de La-Capite 70, Cologny (tel: (022) 707 4800), allows non members to play for SFr100.
Squash
The Squash Club de Genève, Chemin du Joli-Bois
3, Chambésy (tel: (022) 758 2207; e-mail: geneva-squash@bluewin.ch),
is open daily from 0900-1430hrs and 1730-2300hrs and charges SFr15
per person for 45 minutes of play. Reservation is required.
Swimming
The centrally located Piscine de Vernets, Rue Hans Wilsdorf 4-6 (tel: (022) 418 4000), is open Tuesdays and Fridays 0900-2000, Wednesdays 0900-2100, Thursdays 0900-1700, Saturdays 0900-1800 and Sundays 0900-1700.
Tennis
Tennis Club Genève Eaux-Vives, Parc des Eaux-Vives, Quai Gustave-Ador 82 (tel: (022) 735 5350), has 17 tennis courts and it is for members only. Tennis Club Genève Champel, Route de Vessy 41 (tel: (022) 784 2566), has 11 tennis courts and charges about SFr25 in the summer for 1 hour and SFr40 in winter (reservations are required). Both of the above clubs can be contacted at the website: www.tc-geneve.ch. Le Tennis du Bois Carré, Chemin des Bûcherons 14, 1234 Vessy (tel: (022) 784 3006), is a 15 minute drive from Geneva and has 13 courts available for SFr20 for 1 hour in summer and SFr30 in winter. |
