Network of municipal sports facilities
In Barcelona, doing a sport is within the reach of any city resident, not only because of the city's full and wide-ranging programme of activities, but also due to its network of infrastructures, which makes it possible to do sport and physical activities while positioning the Catalan capital as the model for a sports city.
There are a large number of public sports facilities distributed throughout the city which, together with private centres, make it possible for city residents to do all kinds of sports and physical activities.
These facilities can be classified into two main groups, taking into account the access requirements: facilities with open access that are free of charge [link to the Gymnastic Circuits section], usually located in public spaces (squares, parks, beaches, etc.), and municipal facilities that offer organised activities, which people can use by paying a regular quota or an occasional admission fee.
For many years, Barcelona City Council has been committed to offering city residents a wide range of possibilities for doing affordable, balanced and high-quality sport. The network of municipal sports facilities is designed to ensure that everyone in the city can find a place to do the physical activity of their choice, according to their preferences or their needs. Municipal sports facilities are open practically all year round, every day of the week.
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Municipal sports centres (CEM) are facilities that have various sports areas, enabling service users to do various types of sport and physical activities. People can do individual, unsupervised activities, or those that are either organised by the centre or connected to an organisation or association.
Most CEMs have a swimming pool (indoor or outdoor), fitness rooms, supervised-activity rooms and cardiovascular rooms. Some also have a sports hall, football field or athletics track.These facilities offer the following services:
1. Membership quota
In return for paying a monthly fee, members get free access to most of the centre’s sports areas. This quota also includes access to a wide range of supervised activities or courses, along with advice services.
Apart from the general quota, there are other less expensive options, as well as discounts (for families, senior citizens, people with disabilities, etc.) so that anyone can get access to sport.2. Occasional admission
This allows access to a CEM once, without enrolling first, and on condition that there is room for more people inside. The services provided are practically the same as for members, but there are no discounts. Prior booking is required for some facility areas.
3. Supervised activities (courses)
CEMs organise all kinds of courses (swimming, jazz dancing, aerobics, etc.) aimed at all population segments and scheduled at a number of different timeslots. The length of the courses varies and they may be intensive, monthly, quarterly, etc.
You need to enrol for the activity in question and pay the corresponding regular subscription fee. Club members get a discount on some of these activities.4. Hiring facilities
Some spaces in CEMs can be rented, especially swimming pools, sports halls and multi-use rooms. These are specially for:
• Organisations, associations, clubs, etc., for training, competitions or recreational purposes, as well as for non-sport activities.
• Schools, for school PE, and AFAs, for out-of-school activities
• Informal groups, companies, etc., for sport, teaching activities, etc.5. Complementary services
The complementary services that are available vary from one centre to another. The most relevant include changing rooms and renting lockers, but there are also medical or physiotherapy services, shops, a cafeteria or restaurant, etc.
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These facilities focus on one particular type of sport (sailing, tennis, baseball, hockey, basketball, handball, volleyball, football, athletics, etc.). Because of their structural characteristics, some of them offer various spaces for different modalities (e.g. sports hall plus athletics track).
These facilities offer the following services:1. Membership quota
Only in some facilities. In return for paying a monthly subscription, members get free access to the centre’s sports areas.
2. Occasional admission
This allows access to the facility once, on condition that there is room for more people inside. Prior booking is required for some facility areas.
3. Courses
The facilities organise courses aimed at all population segments and held at different times. The length of the courses varies and they may be intensive, monthly, quarterly, summer etc.
You need to enrol for the activity in question and pay the corresponding regular subscription fee.4. Hiring facilities
Renting out sports areas is the main service offered by specialised facilities that do not have members. These are specially for:
• Organisations, associations, clubs, etc., for training, competitions or recreational purposes, as well as for non-sport activities.
• Schools, for school PE, and AFAs, for out-of-school activities
• Informal groups, companies, etc., for sport, teaching activities, etc.5. Complementary services
Complementary services that are available vary according to each facility. The most relevant include changing rooms and renting lockers, but there are also medical or physiotherapy services, shops, a cafeteria or restaurant, etc.
