Sports
Turkey’s economy has suffered over the last few years and yet the success of its sportsmen and women continue to hit new heights. Halil Mutlu won a gold medal in weight lifting during the Sydney Olympics and diver Yasemin Dalkilic has broken several world records. Turkish people are absolutely fanatic about football. During the August to May season, success locally or internationally for any of the three top teams, Galatasaray (red and yellow banners), Fenerbahce (blue and yellow) or Besiktas (black and white), can mean shotguns fired in the air and car horns hooting all night. Galatasaray’s prestigious UEFA Cup win in May 2000 was a major source of pride and resulted in their trainer being transferred to Milan. Most Turkish fans don’t drink so while games and their aftermath can be rowdy and loud they are usually safe, although there have been recent attacks on visiting foreign fans who should be careful not to cause offence. The main stadium is the Inonu near Taksim Square. Basketball is also popular since Efes Pilsen enjoyed several Euroleague wins in 1999. Horseracing takes place at the Veli Efendi track in Bakirkoy on Wednesdays and at weekends, although betting is more popular than attending. Fitness centers, golf, tennis and swimming pools, however, are strictly middle-class pursuits, with clubs tending to be in the suburbs and expensive. In summer, there are yacht regattas in the Sea of Marmara.
Fitness centers: The Dorint Park Plaza, 23 Topcu Caddesi in Taksim (tel: (212) 254 5100), is a complete sports facility offering swimming, sauna, massage, Jacuzzi and work-out rooms, free to hotel guests but membership available to non-residents. The Marmara Hotel GYM in Taksim (tel: (212) 251 4696) has the latest range of cardiovascular and weight-training equipment, as well as step, aerobic and yoga classes. Membership is available to non-residents. Sports International (tel: (212) 559 3333) at the Atakoy Marina, Sahil Yolu on the way to the airport, is considered the best-equipped and varied sports facility in the city, offering tennis, outdoor and indoor swimming pools, squash courts and personal training programs. The company has recently opened a new club at the Polcentre Shopping Mall at 1 Levent (tel: 212 280 8949).
Golf: There are several international golf centers on the outskirts of Istanbul, including the swish and expensive Kemer Country Club (tel: (212) 239 7913) beyond Eyup. In the city, however, the nine-hole Istanbul Golf Club, 4 Levent (tel: (212) 264 0742), has been going for a century and is one of the oldest in Europe but is for members and guests only.
Riding: The Istanbul Riding Club in Maslak (tel: (212) 264 1404) offers horses for hire as well as instruction.
Sailing: Istanbul’s main yacht marina is at Fenerbahce on the Asian side of the city and the Fenerbahce Sailing Club (tel: (216) 336 0633) is located here.
Tennis: There are two private tennis courts in the suburban coastal village of Istinye, the ENKA Sports Center (tel: (212) 276 5084) and TED (tel: (212) 262 0168). The Hillside Tennis Club (tel: (212) 257 7822) at Tepecik Yolu Alkent in Etiler has six courts
