Melbourne is still Australia's sports capital

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This was published 9 years ago

Melbourne is still Australia's sports capital

Melburnians loudly proclaim their city is the biggest sports city in the world.

By Jon Tuxworth
The Australian Open at Melbourne Park gets under way this month.

The Australian Open at Melbourne Park gets under way this month.

As a sports tragic there's nothing better than the sense of anticipation when in the throng strolling from the city en route to a big sports event at Melbourne's famed sports precinct.

While these moments are largely reserved for the city's religion - Australian rules - in winter, this year they will arrive before a Sherrin has even been kicked.

I'm a sports journalist who roams the country covering sport, but the Melbourne sports hub is undoubtedly my favourite. Melbourne Park, home of the Australian Open, AAMI Park and the MCG are convenient, easily accessible and world class.

An aerial view of the MCG and Melbourne Park. The MCG will host the cricket World Cup final in March.

An aerial view of the MCG and Melbourne Park. The MCG will host the cricket World Cup final in March.

The Australian Open tennis gets a jam-packed early year sports line-up under way from January 19. More than 600,000 fans are expected through the gates as Australian supporters wait to see whether Canberra teenager Nick Kyrgios can justify the hype generated from last year's Wimbledon slaying of Rafael Nadal.

It will be the first time the opening grand slam of the year will have access to three undercover stadiums after Margaret Court Arena was equipped with a roof.

The Victorian capital also plays an integral role in the ICC Cricket World Cup, beginning with the second game of the tournament, a blockbuster between arch rivals Australia and England at the MCG on Saturday, February 14.

A model of the MCG at the National Sports Museum.

A model of the MCG at the National Sports Museum.

It also hosts the final on March 29, and Australia is favourite to win a fifth title and avenge their quarter-final exit in the subcontinent four years ago.

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Any visit to the MCG wouldn't be complete without taking advantage of a tour of the facility, as well as the National Sports Museum.

The MCG tour includes a visit to the players' change rooms, the media facilities, and a walk on the arena, while the National Sports Museum is a sports fan's utopia, dripping with history across a range of sports.

The Australian Football Hall of Fame is a must for all AFL fans, but my favourite aspect was the rolling screening of memorable Olympic moments.

It is littered with paraphernalia from previous Olympics including the 1956 Games in Melbourne, the first to be held in Australia.

The Shane Warne hologram, which brings this country's greatest Test wicket taker to life, is also worth a look in the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame as he reflects on some of the biggest moments of his career.

There's always plenty of interactive games for the kids, and the kids at heart, to test their skills, including AFL kicking and handballing simulators and a range of other sports.

Like the tennis, the formula one season also gets under way in Melbourne with the Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park, the only event on the schedule to race around a lake.

Young Australian Daniel Ricciardo enjoyed a breakout season with Red Bull last year, defying the dominance of Mercedes to claim three victories.

He'll be desperate to avenge the demons of last year at his home race, where he was disqualified after stewards ruled his car had breached new fuel flow regulations.

It's the 20th instalment since it moved from Adelaide, and it will be there until at least 2020 after the Victorian government signed a contract extension last year.

For those looking to take a break from sport and immerse themselves in some of Melbourne's hidden delights, Rentabike at Federation Square is the best way to do it and stretch the legs at the same time.

Guide Murray Johnson, a respected photographer/journalist, takes you on a tour of the city, beginning at the Yarra River and sports precinct, and culminating at the Queen Victoria Markets and Little Italy.

Johnson's tour gives you a great sense of Melbourne's past and what makes it 'tick', plus some little-known facts including why the city's tallest building, the Eureka Tower, is glazed in real gold.

His love for the city's cultural and historical background is contagious and left me determined to expand my horizons from beyond the sporting bubble when I next return.

Throw in the hip hidden bars and trendy eating spots the tour takes in through Collingwood, Carlton and Fitzroy, and you'll have a few untapped gems to show off to your friends next visit.

Another 'non sport' option worth a look is the five-week Summer Salt Festival at Southbank beginning January 16, featuring free or cheap live music, dancing, circus acts and theatre.

There's also White Night Melbourne, Australia's most celebrated cultural festival on February 21. The country's only all-night cultural festival it's a cornucopia of art installations, live music, design, film, sport and theatre performances.

Melburnians proudly proclaim their city as the country's sporting capital. This year, it's hard to argue.

AT A GLANCE

* Tourism Victoria.

www.tourism.vic.gov.au

Ph: (03) 9653 9777

* MCG Tour and National Sports Museum (entry to both)

Admission: Family $70, Adult $30, Concession $24, Children 5-15 $15, Children under five free (depart from Gate 3 on all non-event days from 10am-3pm).

www.mcg.org.au

www.nsm.org.au

* Rentabike @ Federation Square

$110 with lunch, plus coffee and cakes in Little Italy

0417 339 203.

Rentabike.net.au

* Australian Grand Prix: March 12-15

Early Bird general admission deals available before March 1.

www.grandprix.com.au

* Australian Open tennis at Melbourne Park: January 19-February 1.

Tickets available at Ticketek.

* Cricket World Cup: February 14-March 29

Five matches at MCG, including Australia v England pool game on February 14, quarter final on March 19 and final on March 29.

Tickets available at tickets.cricketworldcup.com

Jon Tuxworth travelled to Melbourne as a guest of Tourism Victoria.

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