From the pulsating drama and excitement of ice hockey to teeing off at some of Europe's finest courses, Belfast is a wonderful city for sports lovers, whether you prefer to participate or just spectate.Winners of the 1999 Heineken European Cup, the talented Ulster rugby team will be taking on the best of Europe in that competition this season at Belfast;s Ravenhill Stadium, as well as the likes of Connacht, Glasgow, Borders and Llanelli in the fiercely contested Celtic League.   

One of the fastest field sports in the world, the spectacular GAA sport of hurling, along with the equally exciting GAA football, can be enjoyed on Sunday afternoons at Casement Park in west Belfast, home to County Antrim.Regular international athletics meetings are held between April and September at the Mary Peters Track, named after the Northern Irish Olympic gold medallist, in the beautiful surrounding s of Malone Playing Fields, while the magnificent Odyssey Arena also hosts world-class indoor athletic meetings and horse jumping spectaculars.

The famous Down Royal Racecourse, just ten miles south of Belfast City centre, has been thrilling horse racing fans for centuries. Offering fantastic facilities, it hosts some fabulous meetings, including those at St Patrick's Day, May Day and the world famous Northern Ireland Festival or Racing. Add cycling through lovely scenery, the best of fishing, superb walking, and all kinds of water sports and you can see why this is the perfect city to unwind in.

Coors Belfast Giants
5000 people of all ages inside the magnificent Odyssey Arena, enjoying a spectacular show of lights, fast action, crowd participation and Mexican waves. Home and away fans sitting side by side, all eating popcorn, hotdogs and sweets with their beer or hot and cold drinks.Cheerleaders, face painting and music to get the feet stomping and hands clapping. That's just part of what's in store at a Belfast Giants game.

There's a home game almost every Saturday, starting at 7.00pm. There is also a great selection of bars and restaurants beside the Arena, which is easily accessible by road and walking distance from bus and train stations.Ice-hockey is fast, furious and electrifying but it's easy to follow and provides a great buzz. Tickets can be purchased at the Odyssey Box Office on game day, but it's advisable to book in advance on 028 9073 9074 (048 from Rol). Full fixture details and ticket offers can be found on www.belfastgiants.com

The Belfast Maritime Weekend is a new event, approved by Belfast City Council in April 2004. The first annual Belfast Maritime Festival on the weekend 1st and 2nd July 2006 laid the foundations for Belfast's hosting of the Finish of the 2009 Tall Ships Race.The first Belfast Maritime Festival plays host to 8 of the world's most magnificent Tall Ships and 2 naval vessels. As part of the maritime festival there is a continental market, Rockabilly music festival, RNLI man over board demonstrations, water sports demonstrations and great entertainment for all the family.

Liverpool's own Class A1 Square-rigger ZEBU attended the Festival, along with the Square Sail vessels EARL OF PEMBROKE and KASKELOT, Jubilee Sailing Trust's TENACIOUS, Ireland's JEANNIE JOHNSTONE, DE GALLANT from Holland, the GRAND TURK and Penzance-registered Baltic Trader RUTH. Liverpool-based traditional naval tender SNOWBIRD accompanied ZEBU. The German Frigate BRANDENBERG and HMS RAMSEY added a modern grey funnel presence, BRANDENBERG hosting the 'suits-and-speeches' Reception on Friday night.The Lagan River proved an attractive and practical Tall Ships display venue. Recent developments like the Odyssey Leisure Centre and striking new buildings which reflect traditional dockland architecture have turned a disused waterside into an attractive backdrop for High Canvas a stroll away from the City Centre.

Two Music Festivals and a Continental Market were organised to coincide with the Tall Ships visit. Saturday Night featured hot-air balloon and fireworks displays from the Harland & Wolff site where TITANIC, OLYMPIC and NOMADIC were built.The 2007 Belfast Maritime Festival will feature the infamous Tall Ships and host a variety of entertainment for all the family.Location: Clarendn Dock and Queen's Quay.

The Belfast Marathon is a marathon run every year in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The marathon is run on May Day of each year and has been held for 25 years (1982 to 2006). In 2006 there were almost 14,000 race participants.The race is now divided into several categories: men's, ladies', relay, veteran's and wheelchair. It is organised jointly by Belfast City Council and Northern Ireland Athletics.

In 2005 the route was changed to provide runners with a flatter course. This proved unpopular, as it took runners along roads such as the Sydenham by-pass, which were devoid of spectators. In 2006 the original route was reinstated, starting at the City Hall and passing both the Shankill and the Falls.Belfast City Marathon moves into its 26th year in 2007 with its new title sponsor Deep RiverRock. It will be held on Bank Holiday Monday 7th May. Last year the main Marathon event attracted over 1,550 competitors while the Walk, Team Relay and Fun Run brought the total number of participants to over 13,700, paving the way for the most successful race day ever.

Following the success of the 2006 route which was developed in partnership with Belfast City Council, Newtownabbey Borough Council, Northern Ireland Athletic Federation (NIAF), Sustrans, the DRD and the PSNI, the organisers have decided to make only modest changes. All events will start at City Hall and finish at Ormeau Park. The final section of the main Marathon route, however, will now run along Ormeau Embankment (not through the Park as before) and finish on the driveway to the Indoor Tennis Arena.

From Wikipedia
http://www.merseyshipping.co.uk
Excerpt from "Belfast 2006" by Belfast Visitor & Convention Burea