Melbourne - Sports Capital of Australia
It is a well known and accepted fact that Melbournians are sports fanatics, and if there are two individuals with some sort of round or pointy ball, on a court, field, or arena, you can be assured that somewhere close by, and regardless of the weather, is a crowd of spectators, animatedly edging on the players, come wind, rain, hail or shine.
We are legendary for it! So much so that in recent years an entire precinct, on prime land at the edge of Melbourne’s central business district has evolved to cater to our sports famished population.
Admittedly management of the eight or so spectacular arenas, which would have certainly impressed even Gladiatorial Romans, have ¬extended their facilities to globally renowned artistes and super stars, music and circus extravaganzas and an electrifying mix of live entertainment, the fact remains that the main purpose of the area is sport.
This primary fact has not gone unnoticed. In 2006 Melbourne hosted the Commonwealth Games, when 4,500 athletes from 71 countries participated in 16 different sports over 12 days. Arenas, such as the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) , with its capacity for 100,000 spectators, were filled to bursting point. This considered, plus the reality that most of Melbourne’s 3.5 million residents are strong supporters of Australian Football League (AFL), cricket, tennis, basketball, table tennis, plus a host of other games and therefore regularly fill the stadiums to capacity.
A closer look at some of these monumental feats of construction reveals a few historical facts. For example the MCG had its beginnings in 1853, hosted the first international cricket Test Match, the 1956 Olympics, a papal visit in 1986, the 1992 World Cup final, countless football Grand Finals and the Australian World Cup Soccer qualifiers. In the latter part of the 20th century it was extensively redeveloped and today boasts world class sporting facilities to match its world class reputation.
Within the confines and adjacent to the Melbourne Olympic Park Precinct, for that is its name, are not only the arenas, but also rugby and soccer fields, the Richmond Cricket field and Collingwood Training Oval, all set in immense grasslands, which culminate on the eastern border of the City, on the northern banks of the Yarra River. This area affords visitors spectacular views of the City’s skyline, and river walks lead to Birrarung Marr, which translates to ‘river of mists’. It is Melbourne’s newest park in 100 years.
To give you an idea of the significance of some of these sporting facilities let’s start with the Rod Laver Arena. It was completed in 1988, as part of the National Tennis Centre complex, has a 15,000 seating capacity and a moveable roof to ensure continuous play. Apart from the Australian Open the venue has facilitated an extensive range of entertainment spectaculars including rodeos, motocross, wrestling, boxing and ice skating.
The versatile Hisence Arena has 2,760 metres of floor space, offering an internationally accredited 250 metre super fast cycling track, a cushioned tennis court, retractable roof, concert quality acoustics and an innovative seating design that keeps everybody (actually up to 10,500 bodies) close to the action.
Olympic Park Stadium comprises a 5,500 seat swimming pool and facilitates a wide rang of water sports, hockey, soccer and athletics. The Stadium attracts nearly one million people per annum.
As with nearly everything else in Melbourne, it has a plethora of opportunities for people to enjoy themselves, as easily as possible and have a good time. Places mentioned here don’t even scratch the surface in numbers of sporting venues. After all we haven’t even mentioned the Telstra Dome , or Kooyong Tennis Centre, the numerous golf courses, aquatic centres and yachting marinas. The list is endless in the search for a good sporting adventure - so much to do and so little time!
Melbourne Tourist Guide - Home Page
We are legendary for it! So much so that in recent years an entire precinct, on prime land at the edge of Melbourne’s central business district has evolved to cater to our sports famished population.
Admittedly management of the eight or so spectacular arenas, which would have certainly impressed even Gladiatorial Romans, have ¬extended their facilities to globally renowned artistes and super stars, music and circus extravaganzas and an electrifying mix of live entertainment, the fact remains that the main purpose of the area is sport.
This primary fact has not gone unnoticed. In 2006 Melbourne hosted the Commonwealth Games, when 4,500 athletes from 71 countries participated in 16 different sports over 12 days. Arenas, such as the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) , with its capacity for 100,000 spectators, were filled to bursting point. This considered, plus the reality that most of Melbourne’s 3.5 million residents are strong supporters of Australian Football League (AFL), cricket, tennis, basketball, table tennis, plus a host of other games and therefore regularly fill the stadiums to capacity.
A closer look at some of these monumental feats of construction reveals a few historical facts. For example the MCG had its beginnings in 1853, hosted the first international cricket Test Match, the 1956 Olympics, a papal visit in 1986, the 1992 World Cup final, countless football Grand Finals and the Australian World Cup Soccer qualifiers. In the latter part of the 20th century it was extensively redeveloped and today boasts world class sporting facilities to match its world class reputation.
Within the confines and adjacent to the Melbourne Olympic Park Precinct, for that is its name, are not only the arenas, but also rugby and soccer fields, the Richmond Cricket field and Collingwood Training Oval, all set in immense grasslands, which culminate on the eastern border of the City, on the northern banks of the Yarra River. This area affords visitors spectacular views of the City’s skyline, and river walks lead to Birrarung Marr, which translates to ‘river of mists’. It is Melbourne’s newest park in 100 years.
To give you an idea of the significance of some of these sporting facilities let’s start with the Rod Laver Arena. It was completed in 1988, as part of the National Tennis Centre complex, has a 15,000 seating capacity and a moveable roof to ensure continuous play. Apart from the Australian Open the venue has facilitated an extensive range of entertainment spectaculars including rodeos, motocross, wrestling, boxing and ice skating.
The versatile Hisence Arena has 2,760 metres of floor space, offering an internationally accredited 250 metre super fast cycling track, a cushioned tennis court, retractable roof, concert quality acoustics and an innovative seating design that keeps everybody (actually up to 10,500 bodies) close to the action.
Olympic Park Stadium comprises a 5,500 seat swimming pool and facilitates a wide rang of water sports, hockey, soccer and athletics. The Stadium attracts nearly one million people per annum.
As with nearly everything else in Melbourne, it has a plethora of opportunities for people to enjoy themselves, as easily as possible and have a good time. Places mentioned here don’t even scratch the surface in numbers of sporting venues. After all we haven’t even mentioned the Telstra Dome , or Kooyong Tennis Centre, the numerous golf courses, aquatic centres and yachting marinas. The list is endless in the search for a good sporting adventure - so much to do and so little time!
Melbourne Tourist Guide - Home Page
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