Greece Tour Trip : athletics

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Olympic Games » athletics

Greece, as we all know, has a long tradition in athletics. A variety of spectator sports and recreation await the visitor to Athens. Soccer heads the list as the nation's favorite sport followed by basketball and volleyball. Track and field is also popular. Most major soccer matches are played at the beautiful Athens Olympic Stadium which can seat 78,000 spectators. During the summer months, international soccer exhibition matches are held with the soccer season kicking off in September until June. Most of the National Tourist Organization of Greece (EOT) public beaches and swimming pools in the Athens area offer full sea sports facilities such as dressing rooms, piers, canoes, pedalos, fields for various games, tennis courts, volley and basketball courts, children's playgrounds, a pavilion, pastryshop, snack-bar, restaurant, self service and discos.

BEACHES
ALIMOS: Tel. 210-982-7064.
ALIPEDOU VOULAS "A": Tel. 210-895-3248.
ALIPEDOU VOULAS "B": Tel. 210-895-9569.
VARKIZA: Tel. 210-897-2102.
VOULIAGMENI: Tel. 210-896-0906.

SWIMMING
For those who find going to the seashore a chore, there are two major hotels near the center of Athens which offer their swimming pools to the public.

The Athens Hilton at 46 Vas. Sofias Avenue, Tel. 210-722-0201, is open with its pool daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. The fee includes use of showers, a towel and a chair. A pool side snack bar is available.

The Caravel Hotel at 21 Vas. Alexandrou Avenue, Tel. 210-729-0731, is open with its pool daily from 9 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Admission includes the use of showers, a towel and a chair. Anything from the pool side snack bar is extra.

WATER SKIING
VOULIAGMENI BAY: Karagiorgou School, Tel. 210-896-0939. Kassidokosta School, Tel. 210-896-0820. Lipiterakou School, Tel. 896-0743. Vouliagmeni Naval Club, Tel. 210-896-2416.
VARKIZA: Vitoratos School, Tel. 210-897-0040.

FlSHING
Greek waters provide ideal fishing grounds for the amateur angler, especially during the summer. Boats and fishing tackle can be found in Piraeus at the Moutsopoulou Quay (Ak1i Moutsopoulou), where individuals licensed by the Port Authority, rent small craft by the hour. For further information apply to the Amateur Anglers and Maritime. Sports Club, Akti Moutsopoulou, Piraeus, Tel. 210-451-5731.

DIVING
For information on submarine activities with driver's breathing apparatus and depressuring chambers can be gotten from the Heilenic Federation of Underwater Activities, Aghios Kosmas, Ellinikon, Tel. 210-981-9961.

WINDSURFING
At all the beaches organized by EOT and at several water ski training centers, there are windsurfs for hire. For more information call the Hellenic Windsurfing Association, 7 Filellinon St., Athens, Tel. 210-323-0068.

GOLFING
In Greece, a lot of golf courses have been developed all over the country. The most of them provide everything the discerning golfers could wish for and guarantee unforgettable sunshine golfing holidays. Besides the golf clubs, there are hotels providing superbly designed and constructed golf courses. The main golf clubs, which are considered to be among the finest in Europe, are the following:

GLYFADA GOLF COURSE in Athens, Tel.210-894-6820, Fax. 210-894-3721. Open all year round.
AFANTOU GOLF COURSE in Rhodes, 2241-51255, Fax. 2241-52373.
PORTO CARRAS GOLF COURSE in Chalkidiki. Tel. 2375-71381, Fax. 2375-71229.
CORFU GOLF COURSE in Corfu, Tel. & Fax. 2661- 94220.
PORTO ELOUNTA MARE GOLF COURSE in Crete, Tel. 2841-41903, Fax. 2841-41889.

TENNIS
The EOT beaches listed above all have tennis courts which can be used by tourists. Other courts in the Athens area can be found at the following places: .AGHIOS KOSMAS: Tel. 210-981-1040.
ATHENS TENNIS CLUB: 2 Vas. Olga Ave., Athens, Tel. 210-923-2872.
GLYFADA ATHLETIC CENTER: Diadohou Pavlou Ave., Glyfada, Tel. 210-895-3012.
KALAMAKI MARINE CLUB: Kalamaki, Tel. 210-981-0471. PANELLINIOS GYMNASTIC CLUB: 26 Mavromateon St., Athens, Tel. 210-823-3720.

SAILING
Ideal weather conditions for sailing prevail in the Athens area. Further information can be obtained from the Hellenic Sailing Federation, 15A Xenofondos St., Athens, Tel. 210-323-5560.