Page 152 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Australia

150  SY DNEY
SPORTING SYDNEY

Throughout Australia sport is a way of there is no end to the variety of sports
life, and Sydney is no exception. On any you can watch. Thousands gather at the
day you’ll see locals on golf courses at Allianz Stadium and Sydney Cricket Ground
dawn, running on the streets keeping fit, (SCG) when a big game is on while, for those
or having a quick set of tennis after work. who are unable to make it, sport reigns
At weekends, during summer and winter, supreme on weekend television.

St Michael’s and Warringah
Cricket golf courses. It is sensible to
During the summer months Test phone beforehand for a booking,
cricket and one-day internationals especially at weekends.
are played at the Sydney Cricket Tennis is another favoured
Ground (SCG). Shorter Twenty20 sport. Courts available for hire
evening games have a fun and can be found all over Sydney.
exciting atmosphere. It is Many centres also have floodlit
advisable to book well in courts available for night time.
advance (through Ticketek) for Try Cooper Park or Cooper Park or Cooper Park Parkland
Test matches and for all the Sports Centre.
one-day international matches,
or check online to see if tickets
are available on the day. Australia versus the All Blacks

of Origin and Test matches often
Rugby League and sell out immediately. Call
Rugby Union Ticketek to check availability.
The popularity of rugby league Rugby union is the second
knows no bounds in Sydney. most popular football code.
This is what people refer to as Again, matches at Test level Playing golf at Moore Park, one of Sydney’s
“the footy”. There are three sell out very quickly. For some public courses
major competition levels: local, premium trans-Tasman rivalry,
State of Origin – which matches catch a Test match between
Queensland against New South Australia’s “Wallabies” and the Australian Rules Football
Wales – and international Tests. New Zealand “All Blacks”. Phone Although not as popular as in
The “local” competition fields Ticketek for details. Melbourne, “Aussie Rules” has
teams from all over Sydney as a strong following in Sydney.
well as Newcastle, Canberra, Golf and Tennis The local teams, Sydney Swans
Brisbane, Melbourne, the Gold and Greater Western Sydney
Coast, Far North Queensland Golf enthusiasts need not Giants, play their home games
and Auckland, New Zealand. do without their round of at the SCG and Spotless
These matches are held all over golf. There are many courses Stadium at Homebush.
Sydney, but the ANZ Stadium at throughout Sydney where Rivalry between the Sydney
Sydney Olympic Park is by far the visitors are welcome at all times. supporters and their Melbourne
biggest venue. Tickets for State These include Moore Park, counterparts is always strong.
Fans from the south arrive to
cheer on their teams. Tickets for
regular competition rounds can
usually be bought on the day of
the game or through Ticketek
and Ticketmaster.

Basketball
Basketball is a popular
spectator and recreational
sport. Sydney has male and
female teams competing in the
National Basketball League. The
games, held at the Sydney
Sports Centre at Homebush
One-day cricket match between Australia and the West Indies, SCG have much of the pizzazz,