STADIUM, PLAYING-FIELDS, MOUNTAIN TRAILS

kolesarji Maribor had developed several sports relatively early in its history. Shooting as a sport was first mentioned as early as 1703. Equestrian sports, bicycle riding, swimming, and other forms of athletics got under way in the second half of the nineteenth century. At the beginning of this century, mountaineering, tennis, gymnastics, and football became popular. Different sports flourished after World War II. A number of gymnasiums have been built to accommodate them. However many more recreational facilities are needed for the physical wellbeing of the citizenry.

Most extensive is the sports complex in Ljudski vrt, located within Mladinska, Gregorciceva, Strossmayerjeva, and Kajuhova ulica. For the most part it was built after 1945. Its largest such facility is a stadium with a football field circled by a running track and surrounded by an earth embankment. The stadium seats 3000 spectators. Above it, a shell-like roof of reinforced concrete rises to a beautiful flat arch. Around the main football field are an auxiliary football field, a handball court, and two basketball courts. To the west of the roofed grandstands, there is another playing field, along with an amphitheatre designed for a smaller football field, and handball and tennis courts. There are also in Ljudski vrt twelve tennis courts, two volleyball courts, and a bowling facility. Ljudski vrt also provides a tennis facility within a large indoor enclosure.

Along Mladinska ulica, opposite the Ljudski vrt sports complex, is a children's playing field. On the right bank of the Drava river, along Koresova ulica, the Dvorana Tabor (The Tabor Hall) sports centre consists of several buildings. A large multi-purpose building was completed in 1986. It has 3800 seats and can accommodate 4500 spectators. At the bottom of the enclosure, three playing fields are arranged so that volleyball, basketball, and handball activities can be carried on at the same time. On the first floor and mezzanine are lecture halls, tennis courts, a multipurpose gymnasium for athletics and physical training, and a special room for karate.

Acovered ice rink, measuring 1800 m2 is adjacent to the main sports building. In the immediate neighbourhood of the sports building, one finds the athletic stadium of the Railway Sports Society of Maribor ; the football and athletic stadium of the sports association Kovinar is located in Tezno along Ptujska cesta. Mariborski otok

Maribor has three swimming facilities. The oldest (1930), but still very modern and attractive, is the openair swimming complex on Mariborski otok (Maribor Island). It now has three separate facilities for swimmers, beginning swimmers, and children. It has a restaurant, along with changing facilities. There are several lawns for sun-bathing and games. The nudists also have their corner. Maribor Island has very interesting flora, and is protected by the Natural Conservation Law.

A second open-air swimming pool is in Tezno, on Zolajeva ulica. While it is part of the recreational centre of the car factory TAM, it is also open to the public. In addition to an olympic-size swimming pool, it has two smaller pools.

The indoor swimming complex Pristan is located on Koroska cesta 53, not far from the Drava river. It has two swimming pools (17m x 25m and 10m x 17m), a sauna, a gymnasium, and a solarium. Maribor has a strong tennis tradition In addition to the tennis courts in Ljudski vrt and in Tabor, new tennis courts have mushroomed in Pobrezje and Hoce, as well as in schools and factories.

The Hipodromme, along Kamniska cesta 50, offers a variety of equestrian Motonavma activities. Flying lessons and parachuting are available at the Letalski Center in Skoke near the Slivnica International Airport (for information, contact the Letalski Center, Ljubljanska 4, phone 37625). Short flights to see Maribor from the air can be arranged here. Rowing and sailing facilities are available at the Drava boathouses Galeb, Sidro, and Branik. Under special conditions, motor boats are permitted on the Drava between June 1 and September 30.

The proximity to Maribor of the Pohorje Mountain and its numerous tourist facilities and services make skiing a very popular winter sport. Maribor put itself on the map of world-class skiing resorts as the organizer of the Zlata lisica ("the Golden Fox") world cup in Alpine skiing for women. The Pohorje offers 270 hectares of ski runs. In the unlikely event of inadequate snow in the Pohorje area, a stadium, at the foot of the mountain, near the lower cable lift station, can provide artificial snow for skiers. 250 hectares are reserved for Alpine skiing; and one can also cross-country ski for some 25 km. In addition to a cable car, the eastern Pohorje slopes have 18 skilifts arranged on two interrelated sectors of Bolfenk and Areh. They can accommodate 14,500 skiers an hour. The Pohorje skiing grounds can be reached by car or bus.

Information on any of the sports activities mentioned above can be obtained at Zveza telesnokulturnih organizacij (The Association of Sports Organizations), Vita Kraigherja 8, phone 27-779.

Two mountain hiking trails begin at Maribor. Slovenska planinska pot ("The Slovene Mountain Trail"), also called the Slovene Mountain Transversal, winds across the Slovene mountains to Koper ; it begins at the Monument to the Hostages, at the foothills of the Pohorje, in Spodnje Radvanje. The second trail, Pot cez Kozjak ("The Trail across the Kozjak Slope") was opened in 1969, on the 50th anniversary of the Maribor branch of the Slovene Mountaineering Society. It begins at the promenade in the Town Park and winds across the hills on the northern side of the Drava river to Dravograd. Information on hiking and mountaineering can be obtained at the Planinsko drustvo Matica, Vita Kraigherja 2, phone 212-962.