Sports in Elche
The people of Elche may be strongly rooted in the past but the fact that they are a fun loving people cannot be denied. For a city that is used to maintaining its honor and respectability in spite of adverse circumstances, it has never let go of an opportunity to celebrate. Elche Spain is one of the most visited cities in Alicante and it is not hard to understand why.
Festivals and celebrations are the most important components of day-to-day living for the people of Elche. These festivals also bring with them the opportunity to play, sing, dance and eat from morning to late night. Games and sports have become an essential part of all activities in Elche. In addition, the influx of tourists to the city since the 20th century has made it important for the city to cash in on its resources and secure a steady income.
Some of the sports facilities available are for outdoor sports and water sports. The proximity of the coast has given the city an advantage over the inland-based cities which is utilized by offering many different water sports to its guests. Scuba diving, swimming, wind surfing and fishing are some of the sports available. Additionally, horse riding, tennis, squash, basketball and football are some of the out door sports that Elche provides.
Elche city boasts a sports complex that is equipped to cater to different sports and games. The Ciudad Deportiva Leisure Centre covers 150,000 m2 of area, which is divided between two football pitches, three courts for indoor football and basketball, a mini basketball court, an athletics track and three tennis courts. The complex also provides artificially created rock structures for the rock climbing fans. The skate boarding area present within the sports complex aims to cater to those youngsters who delight in that sport.
The city’s stadium, the Estadio Martínez Valero is the site for the city’s football matches. The CF of Elche or the Club Football of Elche uses this stadium for its home meatches against teams from different cities. Built in 1976, the stadium is one of the largest and best equipped in Spain.
There is no shortage of sports facilities in Elche. Apart form the above mentioned, there are many other sports facilities available for different sports. There is even a cycling path that goes around the periphery of the city.

