Editing Belfast (section)

== Recreation and sports ==

=== Leisure centres ===
Belfast City Council owns and maintains 17 leisure centres across the city, run on its behalf by the non-profit [[social enterprise]] [[Greenwich Leisure Limited|GLL]] under the 'Better' brand.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Leisure centres in Belfast |url=https://www.belfastcity.gov.uk/leisurecentres |access-date=11 February 2024 |website=Belfast City Council }}</ref> These include eight large multipurposed centres complete with swimming pools: Ballysillan Leisure Centre and Grove Wellbeing Centre in North Belfast; the Andersonstown, Falls, Shankill and Whiterock leisure centres in West Belfast; Templemore Baths and Lisnasharragh Leisure Centre in East Belfast, and close to the city centre in South Belfast, the Olympia Leisure Centre and Spa,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Leisure Centres, Gyms & Swimming Pools in Belfast {{!}} Better |url=https://www.better.org.uk/leisure-centre/belfast |access-date=11 February 2024 |website=better.org.uk }}</ref>

=== Parks and gardens ===
{{Main|List of parks and gardens in Belfast}}
Belfast has over [[List of parks and gardens in Belfast|forty parks]]. The oldest (1828) and one of the most popular parks [[Belfast Botanic Gardens|Botanic Gardens]]<ref>{{cite web |date=March 2012 |title=Gardens and Tourism |url=http://www.nitb.com/FileHandler.ashx?id=2259 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140401104711/http://www.nitb.com/FileHandler.ashx?id=2259 |archive-date=1 April 2014 |access-date=25 May 2014 |publisher=[[Northern Ireland Tourist Board]] |page=5 }}</ref> in the [[Queen's Quarter, Belfast|Queen's Quarter]]. Built in the 1830s and designed by [[Charles Lanyon|Sir Charles Lanyon]], its Palm House is one of the earliest examples of a curvilinear and cast iron [[Greenhouse|glasshouse]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Palm House Botanic Gardens, Belfast City |url=http://www.gardensireland.com/palm-house.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080513021454/http://www.gardensireland.com/palm-house.html |archive-date=13 May 2008 |access-date=18 May 2007 |publisher=Houses, Castles and Gardens of Ireland }}</ref> Other attractions in the park include the recently restored Tropical Ravine, a humid jungle glen built in 1889,<ref>{{Citation |title=Tropical Ravine |date=23 April 2018 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Gflw4_s5dE |access-date=3 February 2024 }}</ref> rose gardens and public events ranging from live opera broadcasts to pop concerts.<ref>{{cite web |title=Tropical Ravine |url=http://www.belfastcity.gov.uk/parksandopenspaces/tropicalravine.asp |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090517075802/http://www.belfastcity.gov.uk/parksandopenspaces/tropicalravine.asp |archive-date=17 May 2009 |access-date=30 May 2009 |publisher=Belfast City Council }}</ref>

The largest municipal park in the city, and closest to the city centre, lies on the right bank of Lagan. The 100-acres of [[Ormeau Park]] were opened to the public in 1871 on what was the last demesne of the town's former proprietors, the Chichesters, [[Marquess of Donegall|Marquesses of Donegall]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ormeau Park |url=https://www.belfastcity.gov.uk/things-to-do/parks-and-open-spaces/a-z-parks/ormeau-park |access-date=11 February 2024 |website=Belfast City Council }}</ref>

In north Belfast, the [[Water Works, Belfast|Waterworks]], two reservoirs to which the public have had access since 1897, are features of a park supporting angling and waterfowl.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Waterworks |url=https://www.belfastcity.gov.uk/things-to-do/parks-and-open-spaces/a-z-parks/waterworks |access-date=11 February 2024 |website=Belfast City Council }}</ref> In 1906, a further water park, [[Victoria Park, Belfast|Victoria]], opened behind industrial dockland on what had been the eastern shore of the Lough.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Victoria Park |url=https://www.belfastcity.gov.uk/things-to-do/parks-and-open-spaces/a-z-parks/victoria-park |access-date=11 February 2024 |website=Belfast City Council }}</ref> It is now connected through east Belfast by the Connswater Community Greenway which offers 16&nbsp;km of continuous cycle and walkway through east Belfast.<ref>{{Cite web |title=EastSide Greenways |url=https://www.eastsidegreenways.com/ |access-date=28 January 2024 }}</ref>

The largest green conservation area within the city's boundaries is a 2,116 hectares patchwork of "parks, demesnes, woodland and meadows" stretching upriver along the banks of the Lagan river and canal;<ref name=":12" /> Established in 1967, the Lagan Valley Regional Park envelopes in its course, Belvoir Park Forest, which contains ancient oaks and a 12th-century Norman [[Motte-and-bailey castle|Motte]],<ref>{{Cite web |date=5 November 2015 |title=Belvoir Park Forest {{!}} nidirect |url=https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/belvoir-park-forest |access-date=11 February 2024 |website=nidirect.gov.uk }}</ref> and [[Sir Thomas and Lady Dixon Park]], whose International Rose Garden attracts thousands of visitors each July.<ref name="Go To Belfast: Sir Thomas and Lady Dixon Park">{{cite web |title=Sir Thomas and Lady Dixon Park and City of Belfast International Rose Garden |url=http://www.gotobelfast.com/thingstodo/viewdetail.cfm/TDVenue_Key/421/level/page/category_key/197/Page_Key/279/parent_key/0/type/Page/PaGeName/Restaurant_Month.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070531190626/http://www.gotobelfast.com/thingstodo/viewdetail.cfm/TDVenue_Key/421/level/page/category_key/197/Page_Key/279/parent_key/0/type/Page/PaGeName/Restaurant_Month.htm |archive-date=31 May 2007 |access-date=18 May 2007 |publisher=Go To Belfast }}</ref>

Colin Glenn Forest Park,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Fun for all at Ireland's Leading Adventure Park – Colin Glen Belfast |url=https://www.colinglen.org/ |access-date=3 February 2024 |website=Colin Glen }}</ref> the [[National Trust]] Divis and the Black Mountain Ridge Trail,<ref name=":14">{{Cite web |title=Divis and the Black Mountain Ridge Trail |url=https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/northern-ireland/divis-and-the-black-mountain/divis-and-the-black-mountain-ridge-trail |access-date=3 February 2024 |website=National Trust }}</ref> and Cave Hill Country Park.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cave Hill Country Park |url=https://www.belfastcity.gov.uk/cavehill |access-date=3 February 2024 |website=Belfast City Council }}</ref> offer panoramic views over Belfast and beyond from the west.<ref name=":14" /> Climbing the Castlereagh Hills, the National Trust Lisnabreeny Cregagh Glen does the same from the east.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lisnabreeny and Cregagh Glen │ Co. Antrim |url=https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/northern-ireland/lisnabreeny-and-cregagh-glen |access-date=11 February 2024 |website=National Trust }}</ref>

Below Cave Hill, the council maintains one of the few local government-funded zoos in the British Isles. The [[Belfast Zoo]] houses more than 1,200 animals of 140 species including [[Asian elephant]]s, [[Barbary lion]]s, [[Malayan sun bear]]s (one of the few in the United Kingdom), two species of penguin, a family of [[western lowland gorilla]]s, a troop of [[common chimpanzee]]s, a pair of [[red panda]]s, a pair of [[Goodfellow's tree-kangaroo]]s and [[Francois' langur]]s. It carries out important conservation work and takes part in European and international breeding programmes which help to ensure the survival of many species under threat.<ref>{{cite news |date=1 April 2007 |title=Parks and gardens |url=http://www.belfastzoo.co.uk/aboutbelfastzoo/HistoryofBelfastZoo.aspx |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090414005143/http://www.belfastzoo.co.uk/aboutbelfastzoo/HistoryofBelfastZoo.aspx |archive-date=14 April 2009 |access-date=16 May 2009 |publisher=belfastzoo }}</ref>

=== Sports ===
{{Main|Sport in Belfast}}

[[File:Windsor Park redevelopment .jpg|thumb|[[Irish Football Association]] stadium Windsor Park|left]]

Belfast has several notable sports teams playing a diverse variety of sports such as [[association football|football]], [[Gaelic games]], [[Rugby football|rugby]], [[cricket]], and [[ice hockey]]. The [[Belfast Marathon]] is run annually on May Day, The 41st Marathon in 2023, with related events (Wheelchair Race, Team Relay and 8 Mile Walk) attracted 15,000 participants.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Moy Park Belfast City Marathon |url=https://www.belfastcity.gov.uk/events/the-moy-park-belfast-city-marathon |access-date=3 February 2024 |website=Belfast City Council }}</ref>

The [[Northern Ireland national football team]] plays its home matches at [[Windsor Park]]. Football clubs with stadia and training grounds in the city include: [[Linfield F.C.|Linfield]], [[Glentoran F.C.|Glentoran]], [[Crusaders F.C.|Crusaders]], [[Cliftonville F.C.|Cliftonville]], [[Donegal Celtic]], [[Harland & Wolff Welders F.C.|Harland & Wolff Welders]], [[Dundela F.C.|Dundela]], [[Knockbreda F.C.|Knockbreda]], [[PSNI F.C.|PSNI]], [[Newington Youth F.C.|Newington]], [[Sport & Leisure Swifts F.C.|Sport & Leisure]] and [[Brantwood F.C.|Brantwood]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Northern Ireland |url=http://crankshaw-sports-stats.com/directories/dir_northern_ireland.htm |access-date=11 November 2022 |publisher=Crankshaw Sports Stats }}</ref>

Belfast is home to over twenty [[Gaelic football]] and [[hurling]] clubs.<ref>[http://antrim.gaa.ie/clubs/?2 South Antrim Clubs] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071009201454/http://antrim.gaa.ie/clubs/?2|date=9 October 2007}}. CLG Aontroim. Retrieved 11 November 2007.</ref> [[Casement Park]] in west Belfast, home to the [[Antrim GAA|Antrim]] county teams, had a capacity of 31,500 making it the second largest [[Gaelic Athletic Association]] ground in [[Ulster]].<ref>{{cite news |date=13 March 2005 |title=Antrim chief in protest at Maze games |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4161/is_20050313/ai_n12944637 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080118070631/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4161/is_20050313/ai_n12944637 |archive-date=18 January 2008 |access-date=17 September 2007 |newspaper=Sunday Mirror }}</ref> Listed as one of the venues for the UK and Ireland's successful [[UEFA Euro 2028]] bid, with co-funding from the Irish government there are plans for a complete rebuild.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Murray |first=Ewan |date=27 February 2024 |title=Work starts at Belfast's Euro 2028 ghost ground with clock ticking |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2024/feb/27/casement-park-belfast-northern-ireland-euro-2028 |access-date=28 February 2024 |work=The Guardian |issn=0261-3077 }}</ref> In May 2020, the foundation of [[East Belfast GAA]] returned Gaelic Games to East Belfast after decades of its absence in the area. The current club president is Irish-language enthusiast [[Linda Ervine]] who comes from a unionist background in the area. The team currently plays in the Down Senior County League.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Conway |first=Gail |date=18 July 2020 |title=GAA returns to Unionist East Belfast |url=https://www.rte.ie/news/2020/0718/1154137-gaa-east-belfast/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200721225215/https://www.rte.ie/news/2020/0718/1154137-gaa-east-belfast/ |archive-date=21 July 2020 |access-date=21 July 2020 |website=rte.ie }}</ref>

The 1999 [[Heineken Cup]] champions [[Ulster Rugby]] play at [[Ravenhill Stadium]] in the south of the city. Belfast has four teams in rugby's [[All-Ireland League (rugby union)|All-Ireland League]]: [[Belfast Harlequins]] in Division 1B; and [[Instonians]], [[Queen's University RFC|Queen's University]] and [[Malone RFC|Malone]] in Division 2A.

Belfast is home to the [[Stormont (cricket ground)|Stormont cricket ground]] since 1949 and was the venue for the [[Irish cricket team]]'s first ever [[One Day International]] against [[England cricket team|England]] in 2006.<ref>{{cite web |date=16 July 2015 |title=Civil Service Cricket Club |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/ground/58588.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170128223957/http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/ground/58588.html |archive-date=28 January 2017 |access-date=4 January 2017 |website=ESPNcricinfo |publisher=ESPNSports Media }}</ref>

The 9,500 capacity [[SSE Arena, Belfast|SSE Arena]] accommodates the [[Belfast Giants]], one of the biggest [[ice hockey]] clubs in the UK. Featuring Canadian, ex-[[National Hockey League|NHL]] players, the club competes the British [[Elite Ice Hockey League]].

Belfast was the home town of former [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]] player [[George Best]], the 1968 [[European Footballer of the Year]], who died in November 2005. On the day he was buried in the city, 100,000 people lined the route from his home on the Cregagh Road to Roselawn cemetery.<ref>{{cite news |last=McCann |first=Nuala |date=3 December 2005 |title=A city mourns for the Belfast Boy |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/4495026.stm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061219212141/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/4495026.stm |archive-date=19 December 2006 |access-date=18 May 2005 |work=BBC News Northern Ireland |publisher=BBC }}</ref> Since his death the [[George Best Belfast City Airport|City Airport]] was named after him and a trust has been set up to fund a memorial to him in the city centre.<ref>{{cite web |title=George Best Memorial Trust |url=http://www.georgebesttrust.com/ |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929121852/http://www.georgebesttrust.com/ |archive-date=29 September 2007 |access-date=18 May 2007 |publisher=George Best Trust }}</ref> Other sportspeople celebrated in the city include double world snooker champion [[Alex Higgins|Alex "Hurricane" Higgins]]<ref>{{cite news |date=16 April 2007 |title=Snooker on the ropes – Hurricane |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/snooker/4913768.stm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070821230132/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/snooker/4913768.stm |archive-date=21 August 2007 |access-date=17 September 2007 |publisher=BBC }}</ref> and world champion boxers [[Wayne McCullough]], [[Rinty Monaghan]] and [[Carl Frampton]].<ref>{{cite web |title=WBA History |url=http://www.wbaonline.com/dates/dates03.asp |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011113939/http://www.wbaonline.com/dates/dates03.asp |archive-date=11 October 2007 |access-date=17 September 2007 |publisher=World Boxing Association }}</ref>