Sport | Charlotte's VVeb

Krakow Welcomes Marathon Runners

25/03/201019/10/2016 by Charlotte J

The ninth Krakow marathon gets underway in five weeks time, as the Polish city welcomes competitors from around the world. The 26.2 mile race gets underway on 25 April and takes in the Polish capital of culture’s beautiful old town, as well as the banks of the Vistula River beneath the gaze of the Wawel Castle.

A fixture in the city since 2002, the Cracovia Marathon attracts more runners and spectators every year. And participants who successfully complete the course, along with four other qualifying Polish marathons in two calendar years, will also receive a Crown of Polish Marathons badge.

For more information visit the official Cracovia Marathon website at www.cracoviamaraton.pl

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Slovenia – Be In It To Win It: Holiday Offer for British Tourists

16/03/201019/10/2016 by Charlotte J

Slovenia Ambassador to London Launches Slovenia... — Iztok Jarc, Slovenia Ambassador to Great Britiain Launches Slovenia… Bet You’ll Love It Campaign, The Colonies Pub, London

I would normally shy away from discussing all things sport related (certainly football related) but last week I was invited to The Colonies pub in Victoria, London to celebrate the launch of Slovenia’s goals for hols promotion. Slovenia’s World Cup footballers have set a goal of attracting thousands of British fans with the kick-off of a holiday giveaway campaign.

Drawn in the same tournament group as England, the plucky Slovenian squad wants to encourage British holidaymakers to head for their home country in this unique promotion. Travellers will be given back part of the cost of their planned trip as Slovenia progress in South Africa – culminating in a full refund if the side carries off the trophy.

Under the Slovenia… Bet You’ll Love It campaign, travellers booking Slovenia holidays between 10 March and 10 June with participating holiday companies and travelling before June 2011 qualify for the cash-back offer. Should Slovenia reach the quarter finals, those with qualifying bookings get back 25 per cent of the cost of their holiday. If the team gets to the semi-finals, a 50 per cent refund is paid. Should the Slovenia team win the World Cup final the full cost of the holiday is paid back!

Captained by West Bromwich Albion midfielder Robert Koren, Slovenia have been drawn in the tournament’s Group C, together with England, USA and Algeria. Slovenia’s opening match is against Algeria on 13 June and they play England on 23 June.

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Bargain Ski Breaks in Slovakia

10/11/200918/10/2016 by Charlotte J

Glorious empty slopes, great snow conditions and bargain prices make Slovakia’s Tatras Mountains an excellent choice for the 2009/10 ski season. Enjoy a week’s skiing with Mountain Paradise for just £399 per person or a three-night weekend break for only £299 per person.

Both packages to the resort of Tatranska Lomnica in the High Tatras include: return flights from London Luton to Poprad (the highest airport in Central Europe) airport transfers, seven or three nights accommodation on a B&B basis in either Pension Encian or Pension Slalom and a six or two day ski pass. Alternatively, for beginners the “learn to ski or snowboard” package starts from just £599 per person including: flights, seven nights accommodation on a B&B basis, a six day ski pass, ski or snowboard rental and five days of ski or snowboard tuition (3 hours per day) .

The best bit – no wasted time – the new Danube Wings service into Poprad means very short transfer times to the resorts.

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Marathon & Kayaking in Ljubljana

14/10/200918/10/2016 by Charlotte J

Entries are being accepted until 20th October 2009 for the Ljubljana Marathon which will take place on the 25th of October. Local and foreign runners will take to the streets for the 14th year with the choice of three courses – a full marathon, half marathon, or a 10.5km fun run. In 2008 more than 13,000 runners took part in the event.

The marathon route takes runners through Ljubljana’s Old Town and the green outskirts of the city. Numerous spectators line the route to support and encourage the runners taking part. Prospective competitors can find full details including entry costs and a route map on the website www.ljubljanskimaraton.si.

While runners gather their strength at ‘pasta banquets’ on the eve of the marathon, water sports enthusiasts will be putting themselves to the test on 24th October in the 3rd International Kayaking Marathon. Kayakers and canoeists will test their strength on various courses between the city centre bridges on the River Ljubljanica. The longest course measures almost 20km, while recreational canoeists can choose between courses of 5km and 9km.

Previous entrants to the Ljubljanica kayak marathon have included medal-winners from the canoeing world championships. For information and entry forms for this event, contact the Kayak Association of Slovenia by emailing kajak.zveza@siol.net.

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Slovenia: Ideal Location for First-time Skiers

21/09/200918/10/2016 by Charlotte J

Looking for a first-time skiing holiday that offers more than just the slopes? Slovenia could be the perfect choice. Just a two-hour flight from London, Slovenia is one of the cheapest skiing destinations in Europe. Its ski resorts are world class but include plenty of gentler slopes suitable for beginners. What’s more, as one of Europe’s most compact countries, it’s easy to escape the pistes and combine a ski trip with a distinctive city experience in the picturesque capital, Ljubljana.

About 40 per cent of Slovenia is mountainous so skiing is a national sport. The country hosts the men’s and women’s World Cup slaloms every year (at Kranjska Gora and Maribor-Pohorje respectively) and offers dozens of other ski areas. From the award-winning Krvavec (identified by one UK national newspaper as ‘the best ski short break resort in Europe’) to the charming little resort of Cerkno, Slovenia is becoming renowned for its beautiful alpine settings and its skilled ski instructors.

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Angus Bell’s Batting on the Bosphorus

01/06/200917/10/2016 by Charlotte J

Angus Bell is a Scot, who while living in Canada, stumbled upon a medium who told him his Great Uncle Ivor (who had died as a child) was inspiring his ideas, that he would travel and write about it. While working in a methadone clinic Bell planned a cricket tour around Eastern Europe. Starting in the Baltics with playing cricket on ice and encountering a streaker, Bell picks up many a hitchhiker along the way and makes his way through the Balkans, Bulgaria, Turkey, Ukraine, Belarus, the Baltic and finally finishes his tour in Poland where his final match is cancelled.

My sister lent me this book and instructed me that despite my general dislike of travel writing and my limited knowledge of cricket, it would indulge my love of Eastern Europe. However, whether you are a lover of travel writing, cricket, Eastern Europe, or would like to find out about an interesting, albeit odd, adventure.

While Bell’s knowledge of East European history is not always necessarily spot on (though I do understand it is difficult to convey complicated historical concepts, thoughts, ideas and facts in a limited number of words) I did find his investigation of academics’ work amusing simply because there were many thesis written in utter jest. I had never before come across academic work written as a hoax and I do wonder where academics get the time considering supposedly how hard they work and how much research they do! (Note, I realise many historians actually do work incredibly hard!) What I found most intriguing was the brief mention of Lapta, a Russian game which began in the medieval period and is a Russian game similar to cricket.

To find out more about Angus Bell and his adventures go to: www.angusjjbell.com

Batting on the Bosphorus written by Angus Bell is available on Amazon priced at just £5.99. To purchase your copy go to www.amazon.co.uk.