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Sport
Bulgaria’s favourite sport is football and the two top teams, CSKA Sofia (website: www.cska.bg) and Levski Sofia (website: www.levski.bg), both hail from the capital. However, Bulgarian football success is in decline, since a number of the better players left the country to play abroad. The football season kicks off in mid-August, takes a break during January and February, due to harsh winter conditions, then continues through to mid-May. Teams usually play on Sunday afternoons, although some big matches take place on Saturdays. Tickets are on sale at booths outside the grounds on the day of the match. Prices are generally cheap but vary depending on the teams playing. The two main stadiums are Vassil Levski Stadium and Stadion CSKA (Bulgarian Army Stadium), both situated in Borisova Gradina (Boris’s Park), where Sofia’s principal public sports facilities are also located. Although international matches are usually played at Vassil Levski Stadium, it is still closed for reconstruction, so until completion, which is expected in September 2002, these take place at either Stadion CSKA or the Gerena Stadium, in the Hadji Dimitur district.
Traditionally, Bulgaria’s major sport has been wrestling and gymnastics is becoming popular as well. Bulgaria has given some decent performances in the Olympics, although the sport was somewhat depleted when some of the gymnasts remained in the US, after the 1996 Olympic Games. At the 1998 Winter Games in Nagano, a 22-year old woman won the 15-kilometer biathlon event, becoming the first ever Bulgarian athlete to take a gold medal in the winter games.
Fitness centres: The main fitness centres in Sofia are Athletic, 9A Oborishte Ulica (tel: (02) 943 4419), Fitness Centre, 75 Vassil Levski Boulevard (tel: (088) 215 335), and Greta Sport Fitness Complex, 4 Arsenalska Ulica (tel: (02) 653 015), which includes the Spartak Swimming Complex, with both indoor and outdoor pools. Popular with the foreign community, the Sitnyakova Fitness Centre, 90 Cherkovna Ulica (tel: (02) 43 5303), is one of the newest and best equipped fitness centres, including sauna facilities.
Golf: Golf is a new sport in Bulgaria and, as yet, has few followers. Bulgaria’s first golf club, Golf Club Air Sofia, 1 Sixth Septemvri Ulica, Ihtiman (tel: (0724) 3530; website: www.airsofia.com/golf.htm), is located 50km (31 miles) southeast of Sofia, along the E-80. The 18-hole course opened in June 2000. Membership is not required and a day’s play costs Lv100 (Lv60 after 1800). Additional facilities include tennis courts, an outdoor swimming pool and riding stables.
Hiking: Mount Vitosha, 30 minutes south of the city centre, offers great opportunities for hiking and skiing. From spring to autumn, Sofians come here to walk the clearly signposted mountain paths and, from late-December to mid-March, it is possible to ski. Bus 61 from Ovcha Kupel bus station, in the city centre, goes to Zlatni Mostove recreation centre (a patch of private bungalows, restaurants and other facilities). From here it is possible to reach the peak, Cherni Vruh, at 2290m (7513ft), in two to three hours. Information on Zlatni Mostove is available from Pirintourist Co, 6 Vrabtcha Ulica (tel: (02) 981 1687 or 881 1079; fax: (02) 981 9036).
Swimming: In summer, the Banya Maria Louiza outdoor pool, in Borisova Gradina (tel: (02) 963 0054), is open to the public, 0900-2100, at a cost of Lv4. For something a little more luxurious, Castle Hotel Hrankov, 53 Krusheva Gradina, Dragalevtsi (tel: (02) 91909; website: www.hrankov-bg.com), at the foot of Vitosha Mountain, has both indoor and outdoor pools that are open to non-residents at a cost of Lv12. There is also a well equipped sports centre with a gym, sauna, squash and tennis courts.
Tennis: Public tennis courts can be found at Olympica, Borisova Gradina (tel: (02) 971 2090).
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General
