Sports Clubs (over 60) and Training Disciplines (over 50)

Celje is the third-largest town in Slovenia, set on the Savinja river in the east of the country, and it has a reputation as a sporting town. Local sources speak of more than sixty clubs and societies offering training in more than fifty disciplines, a figure that suggests how broad the range is for a town of this size. Sport here is not only a spectator activity but part of daily life, with clubs for children, adults and older people, and facilities spread across the town and the surrounding hills.

Some sports have a special place in the town's identity. Handball is the best known, since the town's handball club has been among the leading teams in Slovenia for decades and has competed successfully in European competitions, drawing large crowds to its home matches. Football, basketball, athletics, judo and other individual and team sports also have long-established clubs, and young athletes from Celje have gone on to national and international careers. The main halls and stadiums host league matches, tournaments and events through the season, so a visitor with an interest in sport can often find a match or competition to watch.

For participation, the offer is wide. Clubs and societies teach tennis, volleyball, swimming, martial arts, gymnastics, dancing, climbing and many other activities, and recreational groups welcome beginners and older people as well as competitors. The town has a year-round sports complex, with halls and fields for indoor and outdoor play. Outdoors, the surroundings give room for running, cycling and hiking: the Town Forest, close to the centre, has marked paths for walking and running, Šmartinsko jezero, the lake on the northern edge of town, is a base for water sports, with kayaking, paddleboarding and rowing, and routes along the Savinja and in the hills offer cycling for all abilities.

Celje combines sport with its other attractions. After a day of activity, visitors can see Celje Castle, the old town with Trg Celjskih Knezov, the Roman remains of Celeia, and local food, and relax in the spas of the surrounding region, for which Celje is a convenient base. Tourist information can help with finding a club or facility, and some operators arrange taster sessions and equipment hire for visitors.

The town suits active families, sports fans and those who want to combine exercise with sightseeing. Check the schedule of fixtures and the opening times of facilities before planning, since clubs and halls operate on seasonal timetables.