Gezira Sporting Club
The Gezira Sporting Club ( Arabic نادى الجزيرة الرياضى, DMG Nadi al-ǧazyrah al-reyādī ) is the largest leisure area in Egypt . It is located on the island of Gezira in Cairo and has an area of 0.6 km 2 .
The club is currently expanding another location in Cairo's 6th of October City . The area has a size of 20 ha.
history
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The Gezira Sporting Club was founded in 1882 on the site of the Khedivial Botanical Gardens . Acacias and gardens that adorn the complex are still evidence of this today. After the land was leased under a British military order, the site was divided into several free play areas.
At first the club was only available to the British Army . British officers automatically became members of the club; other ranks could only become members on the recommendation of two members. There were about 750 members. Guests could buy a day pass for five piasters when accompanied by a member.
In 1906, the members wanted to take over the club as property, but the Egyptian government refused the request. Instead, they were granted a 60-year lease.
The club retained its exclusive character until after the Second World War. In January 1952 it was nationalized and made public. From this point onwards, most of the members were upper class Egyptians. The structure of the club changed through the nationalization. The eighteen-hole golf course has been reduced to nine holes. A youth club was built on the other half.
In the early 1960s, the Egyptian government nationalized the club again. The area was divided again in order to found the Al Ahly Sporting Club , which was supposed to promote popular sports for the benefit of the poorer population.
golf
The golf course in Gezira, built in 1882, is the oldest in the Middle East. The course is an 18-hole course that is played on nine fairways, par 70, length 5360 m.
Other sports
Official tennis tournaments and championships have been held at the Gezira Sporting Club since 1907 . From 1925 international prominent tennis players took part in these very well attended events.
Around 40 other sports are currently offered in the Gezira Sporting Club.
Individual evidence
- ↑ Golf at the Gezira Sporting Club, website of the Egyptian Tourist Office ( Memento from 23 September 2015 in the Internet Archive )
Web links
Coordinates: 30 ° 3 ′ 16.7 ″ N , 31 ° 13 ′ 37.7 ″ E