Sport in Lyon

Football is at the heart of the sporting life of the city, with its home team, Olympique Lyonnais , doing very well in the French first league, achieving a second place standing, just behind Nice and comfortably ahead of Olympique de Marseille, in 2002. The team is based at the Stade de Gerland, avenue Jean Jaurès , a classified historical monument designed by local architect Tony Garnier, in 1926. The stadium is not normally open for visits, except during matches and concerts. This was one of the host venues for the 1998 World Cup.

Tickets for sporting events can be purchased from Billeterie du Progrès, 52 rue Servient.

Bowling: Bowling is on offer at the AMF Bowling Lyon, Part-Dieu shopping centre , and the Bowling du 8e, rue Marius Berliet.

Fitness centres: BAD’s, 44 rue Victor Lagrange, Cadance Pascale Pecolo, 14 rue Pizay, Gym Sport Loisirs, 2 rue Crimee , and Club Pleine Forme, 81 rue de la Republique, are all sports centres that are open to the public.

Golf: There are many golf courses in Lyon and the Rhône-Alpes region. Two nine-hole public courses are Golf du Miribel Jaunage, Vaulx en Velin , and the Golf de l’isle d’Abeau, Le Rival, L’isle d’Abeau . Green fees range from Pound Sterling 15 to Pound Sterling 25. Additionally, there are many private golf courses where green fees range from Pound Sterling 32 to Pound Sterling 45.50. The Golf Club du Gouverneur, Monthieux , has three courses - an 18-hole championship course, an 18-hole general course and a nine-hole course for beginners. The Golf Club du Beaujolais, Lucenay, is aimed at all levels but remains rather technical.

Jogging: There are numerous jogging circuits available in the parks of Lyon, with the most popular in Parc de la Tete d’Or, Parc de Parilly or Parc de la Croix-Laval.

Swimming: For information on Lyon’s swimming pools, visitors should contact the Lyon City Council . The Piscine Municipale, 349 avenue Jean Jaures , and Piscine Municipale, chemin Andre Latarjet , are both public pools. There is also the Garibaldi Swimming Pool, 221 rue Garibaldi , and the Saint Exupery Swimming Pool, 11 rue Petrus Sambardier .

Tennis: Tennis courts are available at Lyon Metropole Sports, 84 quai Joseph Gillet , Tennis Club de Lyon, 3 boulevard du 11 Novembre, and Tennis Club de la Pape, 323 boulevard Marcel Yves-Andre .