The main
spectator
sports
here are
football
(soccer)
and
basketball,
which is
Israel's
second
sport
but
attracts
bigger
crowds
throughout
the
country
(and the
country
does
rather
better
at it
internationally,
too).
If
you want
to get
stuck in
yourself,
many
hotels
have
facilities
such as
fitness
rooms
and
swimming
pools,
while
both the
city's
YMCAs,
in West
Jerusalem
and East
Jerusalem,
have
facilities
for
participation
sports
Basketball
The
local
basketball
team,
HaPo'el
Yerushalayim
(one of
the
country's
best
squads,
lying
near the
top of
the
basketball
league)
play
Sundays
at
Ekhala
Sport in
Malkha (tel
643
1331;
bus #6,
#24,
#24a,
#31),
where
internationals
are also
played.
Crowds
at
matches
are an
enthusiastic
lot,
making
plenty
of noise
and
chanting.
Recent
American-influenced
innovations
have
included
cheerleaders.
Tickets
(around
25NIS)
are
available
from
Klaim or
Bimot in
Shamai
Street.
Football
(soccer)
Jerusalem's
football
team,
Betar
Yerushalayim,
play
every
week at
Teddy
Stadium
(tel 678
8376;
bus #6,
#24,
#24a,
#31), in
Malkha.
Betar
are
currently
riding
high in
the
National
League,
equivalent
to the
English
and
Scottish
Premier
divisions;
supporters'
singing,
chanting
and
horns
ensure
matches
are
almost
European
in
atmosphere
(as
opposed
to
English
or
Scottish).
Prices
vary
according
to the
match (from
around
25NIS),
and
tickets
can be
bought
in
advance
from
Klaim or
Bimot in
Shamai
Street.
Swimming
In
addition
to the
swimming
pools
at
deluxe
hotels
and the
two Ys,
there's
an
olympic-size
municipal
public
pool in
the
German
Colony
at 43 'Emek
Refaim (tel
563
2092;
bus #4,
#14,
#18;
Sun-Thurs
6am-6pm,
Fri
6am-5pm,
Sat
8am-6pm).
Tenpin
bowling
There's
a
bowling
alley in
the
Kanyon
Talpiot
mall on
Yad
Harutzim
Street (tel
673
2195;
bus #14;
daily
10am-2am,
cheaper
before
6pm).
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