Year-round Sports Complex

Celje is the third-largest town in Slovenia, on the Savinja River in the east of the country, and it has a long tradition of sport, with many clubs and a good range of facilities for both competitors and recreational users. The sports complex in the town is the focus of much of this activity. Because specific information about the complex's layout and programme is limited, visitors should check with the local tourist information office or the municipality for current facilities, schedules and prices.

Sports complexes in towns of this size typically combine several kinds of venue in one area. There are usually fields or a stadium for football and athletics, halls for indoor sports such as handball, basketball, volleyball and martial arts, courts for tennis, and pools or training rooms. In winter the emphasis shifts to indoor halls, and some towns provide an ice rink for skating and hockey, so that activity continues through the cold months. The word year-round in the title reflects this combination of indoor and outdoor facilities, which allows clubs and recreational groups to keep training in any season. Many complexes also include playgrounds, walking paths and refreshment points, so they are used by families as well as athletes.

Celje's sporting life is varied. Handball is the best known sport, with the town's club among the leading teams in the country and regular participants in European competition, while football, athletics, judo and many other disciplines have active clubs. Events, tournaments and training camps are held through the year, and a visitor who is interested can often find a match to watch. Local sources speak of more than sixty clubs and over fifty disciplines in the town, which suggests how broad the offer is for those who want to take part, from team games to individual sports.

Beyond the complex, the outdoors is close at hand. The Town Forest, on the edge of the centre, has paths for walking and running, Šmartinsko jezero, the lake on the northern edge of town, has paddling, rowing and a wake park, and routes along the Savinja and in the surrounding hills are good for cycling. After exercise, there is plenty to see in town: Celje Castle on its hill, the old town and the Roman remains of Celeia, with spas in the surrounding region for those who want to relax.

The complex suits active families, sports fans and groups looking for training facilities. Check the opening hours and the programme, since halls often reserve time for clubs and school groups.