Beijing's Upcoming Sports Season: Everything You Need To Know
As the summer slowly winds down, it’s time to at least think about shedding that beer belly and getting back to your normal, less-beer- and wine-soaked self. After what was the spectator sports fest of the past few months, with the World Cup, Tour de France, and more, it's time to show the world that you, too, also have what it takes to be a hero, albeit in the welcoming world of Beijing's amateur leagues. Even in the hot August sun, Beijingers are out in numbers and there's plenty on offer; from football to frisbee, golf to hockey.
Football (or, ya know, Soccer)
A message to all you football lovers: the time is almost here to feel your feet burn on the hot astroturf, as the countdown to the expat football season begins! With games and practices alternating between Lido's Si'de Park and Dulwich College, the International Friendship Football Club (IFFC) holds claim to being the biggest expat soccer league in Beijing and has been facilitating the footballing needs of the expat community for over 20 years. Teams normally hold friendly and competitive matches from midday until the early evening on Saturdays and Sundays, with two divisions that run from September to June, and an exciting cup competition, too.
This competitive amateur league is entirely comprised of self-organized teams, most with a long history in Beijing. Through their website, keen players can find links to profiles of each individual team, with the Celtics, Afrika, and Barbarians historically being the most successful clubs in the league. The league is inclusive, with a big social element to it and the best way to get involved is simply to ask for a trial.
Even if you don't play, the matches draw plenty of spectators and make for an enjoyable day out for friends and family as well as a good run around for serious players on the pitch.
Website: iffc-1994.com
Ice Hockey
With the announcement week that Wayne "The Great One" Gretzky is to become Beijing's Kunlun Red Star ambassador, it seems as though ice hockey's about to get a big boost in the capital. If you want to get in on the action, you'll want to join the Beijing International Ice Hockey league (BIIH), a community-focused organization that welcomes adult players of all skill levels, genders, and nationalities (not just Canadians and Scandinavians!). The league is made up of eight teams which play weekly games and regularly socialize off the ice. Founded in 1988, BIIH currently features players from over 15 countries and is set to hold their registration night on Aug 25 at XL Bar in Sanlitun.
Website: beijinghockey.com
Sign up: mp.weixin.qq.com/s/hCd0SbW1bSaZYcVkWKha3Q
WeChat: BIIH北京国际冰球队
Instagram: @hockeyinbeijing
Ultimate Frisbee
Beijing's ultimate frisbee community is far more extensive than you may think. Hundreds of players, including expats and locals, take part in pickup games across the city and throughout the year. The official organization, the Beijing Ultimate Community (BUC), hold pickup games on Wednesday evenings in Zhichunlu, from 8-10pm. Otherwise, there are several independent teams that run their own training and tournament schedules (contact individual teams on the official BUC website to get involved). You'd best be quick finding a team though, as Beijing's annual tournament, the Beijing Bowl, takes place on Sep 8-9. Many of the teams in Beijing are mixed-gender and proudly international.
Website: beijingultimate.com
Email: info@beijingultimate.com
Gaelic Football
A sanctuary for Irish (and other) expats in Beijing, Beijing GAA – the only Gaelic football club in the city – has been the center of all GAA action in the north of China for years now. The men's and women's teams compete in national and international competitions which take them all across Asia, and train at Lido's Si'de Park every Monday at 8pm and can regularly be found practicing their drinking game at Paddy O'Shea's in Dongzhimen. GAA welcomes athletes from any nation, boasting players from Costa Rica, Ecuador, US, Canada, UK, Australia, New Zealand, and of course China.
Website: beijinggaa.org
Facebook: facebook.com/beijinggaa
Email: contact@beijinggaa.org
Aussie Rules Football
The sole Aussie Rules team in the city, the Beijing Bombers, have a long 15-year history and mainly play intra-club games between training, and annually compete against Shanghai's only AFL team, the Tigers. The Bombers have helped to promote Aussie Rules throughout Asia by playing in the region, including in Cambodia, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Manila, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, and are committed to developing the game in the East. To mix things up, they also participate in the Beijing Cricket Sixes competition and Twenty20 cricket to keep busy and continue their love for Aussie sports. Training sessions take place most weekends at Dulwich College and are open to people of any age and ability.
Website: afl-asia.com/beijing-bombers
Phone: 139 1113 6564 or 6159 4576
Golf
While golf courses and clubs can be found dotted around Beijing's suburbs, the Beijing Golfers Club is one of the city's oldest as well as the oldest expat golf club in the city, having existed since 1995. Anyone is welcome to play and the members' list currently stands at over 200. The club meets every Sunday from March to November and provides bus transportation to various courses around Beijing. Events often involve prizes and attract approximately 50-80 golfers. Though golf is what brings these players together, the Beijing Golfers Club's main purpose is to maintain one of the largest networks of expats in Beijing.
Website: beijing-golfers-club.org
Phone: 138 1144 1543
Email: golf@beijing-golfers-club.org
Rugby
Rugby is growing in popularity in Beijing, with several clubs having formed over the past few years. Notable teams include the Beijing Aardvarks (who can often be found in their second home of Paddy O'Shea's), the Beijing Devils, the Beijing Ducks, and the Beijing Brothers. These four teams often compete against each other, playing regularly at Dulwich College as well as against other teams around China. People of all ages, genders, and abilities are welcome to play, with most teams offering women's sides. Training details of each club can be found on their respective websites:
Beijing Aardvarks R.F.C: beijingaardvarks.org
Beijing Brothers F.C.: thebeijinger.com/directory/beijing-brothers-rugby-football-club
Beijing Devils: beijingdevils.com
Beijing Ducks: Facebook (@beijingducksrugby)
Photos courtesy beijingaardvarks.org, beijingcelticfootballclub.com, courtesy of Chris Clark, beijingultimate.blogspot.com, beijinggaa.org, beijing.austcham.org, beijing-golfers-club.org
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