Page 56 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Sydney

54  INTRODUCING SY DNEY

SPORTING SYDNEY

Throughout Australia sport is a way of life there is no end to the variety of sports
and Sydney is no exception. On any day you can watch. Thousands gather at
you’ll see locals on golf courses at dawn, Allianz Stadium and Sydney Cricket
running around the streets keeping fit, Ground whenever a big game is on,
or having a quick set of tennis after work. while, for those who cannot make it, sport
At weekends, during summer and winter, reigns supreme on weekend television.

There are many courses through ­
Cricket out Sydney where visitors
During the summer months, Test are welcome. These include
cricket, one­day internationals Moore Park, St Michael’s and
and the entertainment­fuelled Warringah golf courses. It
domestic Big Bash series is sensible to phone before ­
Twenty20 games are played hand for a book ing, especially
at the Sydney Cricket Ground at weekends.
(SCG). Tickets for weekday Tennis is another favoured
sessions of the Tests can often sport. Courts available for hire
be bought at the gate (check can be found all over Sydney.
online for availability of tickets Many centres also have flood­lit
on the day), although it is courts available for night time.
advisable to book well in Australia’s Wallabies playing the All Blacks Try Cooper Park or Parkland
advance (through Ticketek) in a Rugby Test Sports Centre.
for weekend sessions of Test
matches and for all the one ­ North Queensland and Auckland,
day international matches. New Zealand. Many of these
matches are held in different
areas of Sydney, although the
Rugby League and ANZ Stadium at Sydney Olympic
Rugby Union Park is by far the biggest venue.
The popularity of Rugby League Tickets for State of Origin and Test
knows no bounds here. This is matches often sell out quickly.
what people are referring to Rugby Union Test matches Playing golf at Moore Park, one of Sydney’s
when they talk about “the footy”. and provincial Super Rugby public courses
There are three major competi­ games are also very popular. For
tion levels: national, State pre mium trans­Tasman rivalry,
of Origin – which matches watch Australia’s “Wallabies” and Australian Rules Football
Queensland against New South the New Zealand All Blacks battle Although not as popular as in
Wales – and international Tests. it out for the Bledisloe Cup. Melbourne, “Aussie Rules” has
The National Rugby League a strong following in Sydney.
(NRL) competition fields teams Golf and Tennis The original local team, the
from all over Sydney as well as Sydney Swans, plays its home
Newcastle, Canberra, Melbourne, Golf enthusiasts need not do games at the Sydney Cricket
Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Far without their round of golf. Ground. A second Sydney­based
team, the Greater Western Sydney
Giants, plays at Homebush.
Rivalry between the Sydney
supporters and their Melbourne
counterparts is always strong.
Tickets can usual ly be bought
at the ground on match day.

Basketball
Basketball is a popular
spec tator and recreational sport
in the city. Sydney has male
and female teams competing
in the National Basketball
League. The men’s games, held
Aerial view showing both Allianz Stadium and Sydney Cricket Ground at the Sydney Olympic Park’s

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