First division European sides will travel to Rota this month to train, using the sporting facilities at the Costa Ballena.

The ground has been reserved from 2 to 12 of February for Superfund Pashing of Austria (third in the Austrian League); from 12 to 21 February for Legia Warsaw of Poland (second in the Polish first division), and from 21 February to 1 March for Esbjerg of Denmark.

During the month of January the grounds are being used by German clubs. The first division side FC Mainz is there from the 8 to 18 January while Borussia Dortmund’s reserve team is booked in from 21 January to 1 February.

These training visits are indicative of the boom in sports tourism in the area, and significantly, this is not the first time that the Polish and Austrian sides have used these training facilities.

The facilities were opened on 15 December 2005 with two full size pitches: one with real turf and the other artificial within the tourist complexes of Rota and Costa Ballena.

The Mayor of Rota, Jesús Corrales, has underlined the importance for Rota of this type of tourism since it brings in important benefits out of high season. The sports tourism market is being strongly promoted within the province of Cádiz which has invested in first class facilities to attract the sporting elite.

Friendly matches in Jeréz 

On 3 and 7 February two friendly international matches will be played in the Chapín municipal stadium in Jeréz. On 3 February Poland will play Andorra and on 7 February Poland will play again, this time against Slovakia. Both matches start at 8.30pm and in both cases entrance is free. The image of Jeréz will be projected internationally as the matches are to be broadcasted live in the three participating countries.

Real Madrid, Barcelona y Manchester

Football has for many years now been an important source of income for the tourism sector. For example, the Hungarian national side has trained in the hotel Meliá Sancti Petri in Chiclana and the Spanish national side has stayed at the hotel Montecastillo as have important European clubs sides such as Real Madrid, Barcelona, Borussia Dortmund, Manchester United, Paris Saint Germain, Hannover, Rapid Vienna, Valencia, Murcia and Betis.

Bruges, Málaga, the Under 21 and Under 18 national sides as well as Barcelona and the national Basketball team have stayed at Guadacorte Park de Los Barrios in order to train.

Campos de fútbol de Costa Ballena
Avda. Reina Sofía, s/n 11.520 Rota
Tfno. +34 956 846161
Móvil 628 46 3223
aremsa.deporte@telefonica.net  
Dr. Instalaciones deportivas: Francisco Corbeto