Unusual Sporting venues
Unusual Sporting venues
Tennis on a helipad
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The Burj Al Arab luxury hotel converted its helipad to a grass tennis court, and Roger Federer and Andre Agassi checked in for a "friendly hit in 2005."
Having this iconic picture of the two of us here in Dubai playing on the helipad where they created this court all alone with the helicopter watching us doing it, it was very special for us to do."
Roger Federer
Squash in front of the pyramids
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The Great Pyramid of Giza was the backdrop of the 2006 World Championship, which returned to the location in 2016.
The night before my quarters I couldn’t sleep the whole night. I wasn’t thinking at all about any tactics, winning or losing, I was just dreaming and counting the minutes and seconds to start the match and enjoy my squash!"
Karim Abdel Gawad
The then world No.6 beat fellow Egyptian Ali Farag in straight games as he became the first winner of the revived Al Ahram tournament
Underground cricket
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The world's first underground cricket match took place 600m (2,000ft) inside Honister Slate Mine in the United Kingdom between village teams of Threlkeld and Caldbeck in 2013. It was one of the many unusual venues the two teams played at to raise money to fix Threlkeld Cricket Club’s flood-damaged ground.
Golf on ice
Greenland, 2011
I knew everybody played golf and everyone enjoyed it, so I thought it would be fun. People thought I was sure crazy when we started."
Arnie Nieman
The creator of the course in the tiny village of Uummannaq on the West Coast of Greenland
Tennis on water
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Ahead of the 2011 Qatar Open, Federer and Rafael Nadal played a friendly game on a specially created flooded court on a floating lagoon in Doha.
It was a fantastic experience. For the past three years we have done a few different things, and this one was a very nice experience.”
Rafael Nadal
Basketball on a navy warship
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Over 8000 people, including then president Barack Obama attended the inaugural college basketball game held aboard USS Carl Vinson in 2011. A 2012 game was cancelled due to 'condensation on the court' and no future games have been planned.
You can say, 'hey, we are playing this game for the military,' but at the end of the day what does that amount to them putting their lives on the line every day."
Draymond Green
Who played in that game for Michigan State, and now playing for the Golden State Warriors in the NBA
Squash at Grand Central Station, New York
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New York, 2018
I remember stepping on the court (for the first time) and thinking, ‘I cannot believe this is happening right now.’ The feelings—there’s an electricity in the air, there’s a vibrancy, and there’s so much going on around you. It’s so New York."
Olivia Blatchford
USA squash player
Tennis on ice
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After 'helipad' and 'water' Rafael Nadal conquered the third element, joined by Novak Djokovic this time at the Perito Moreno Glacier in Patagonia, Argentina in 2013. Is a flaming court next on the menu?
I would say this is one of the most impressive places around the world. It is definitely a jewel of Argentina, of the whole country."
Novak Djokovic
Racing in a hotel parking lot
A smooth, counter-clockwise track was laid out in the parking lot of the Caesars Palace hotel in LA, which was part of the F1 championship for two years (1981-82).