Editing Canberra (section)

===Sport===
{{Main|Sport in the Australian Capital Territory}}
[[File:BruceStadium19032005.JPG|right|thumb|A rugby league match at [[Canberra Stadium]]]]

In addition to local sporting leagues, Canberra has a number of sporting teams that compete in national and international competitions. The best known teams are the [[Canberra Raiders]] and the [[ACT Brumbies]] who play [[rugby league]] and [[rugby union]] respectively; both have been champions of their leagues.<ref>{{cite news |title=Brumbies Crowned Super 12 Champions. |url=http://www.irishrugby.ie/6855_3684.php |publisher=[[Irish Rugby]] |date=22 May 2004 |access-date=8 October 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071013130431/http://irishrugby.ie/6855_3684.php <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date=13 October 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Premiership Records |url=http://www.nrl.com/nrlhq/referencecentre/premiershiprecords/tabid/10436/default.aspx |publisher=NRL |access-date=19 November 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151029072434/http://www.nrl.com/nrlhq/referencecentre/premiershiprecords/tabid/10436/default.aspx |archive-date=29 October 2015}}</ref> Both teams play their home games at [[Canberra Stadium]],<ref>{{cite news |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071009013150/http://www.ais.org.au/facilities/stadium.asp |archive-date=9 October 2007 |title=Canberra Stadium |url=http://www.ais.org.au/facilities/stadium.asp |publisher=[[Australian Institute of Sport]] |access-date=9 March 2016}}</ref> which is the city's largest stadium and was used to hold group matches in [[Association football|football]] for the [[2000 Summer Olympics]] and in rugby union for the [[2003 Rugby World Cup]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Sydney 2000:Football |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/olympics/sports/football.htm |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |year=1999 |access-date=8 October 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070803175201/http://www.abc.net.au/news/olympics/sports/football.htm <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date=3 August 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Complete draw for 2003 Rugby World Cup |url=http://www.abc.net.au/rugbyunion/worldcup/2003/draw/default.htm |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |year=2003 |access-date=8 October 2007 |archive-date=12 October 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012151723/http://abc.net.au/rugbyunion/worldcup/2003/draw/default.htm |url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Canberra United FC|Canberra United]] represents the city in the [[A-League Women]] (formerly the W-League), the national [[women's association football|women's soccer]] league and were champions in the [[2011–12 W-League|2011–12 season]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-01-28/united-down-roar-to-clinch-title/3798330 |title=Canberra downs Roar to clinch W-League title |publisher=[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]] |date=31 January 2012 |access-date=3 February 2012 |archive-date=1 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120201020412/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-01-28/united-down-roar-to-clinch-title/3798330 |url-status=live}}</ref> A men's team is set to join the [[A-League Men]] in the [[2024–25 A-League Men|2024–25 season]].

The city also has a successful basketball team, the [[Canberra Capitals]], which has won seven out of the last eleven [[Women's National Basketball League|national women's basketball]] titles.<ref>{{cite news |title=Caps take WNBL championship |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/03/06/2838446.htm?site=news |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |date=17 February 2007 |access-date=8 October 2007 |archive-date=26 October 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101026050146/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/03/06/2838446.htm?site=news |url-status=dead}}</ref> The [[Canberra Vikings]] represent the city in the [[National Rugby Championship]] and finished second in the [[2015 National Rugby Championship|2015 season]].

There are also teams that participate in national competitions in [[Commonwealth Bank Trophy|netball]], [[Australian Hockey League|field hockey]], [[Australian Ice Hockey League|ice hockey]], [[Futures League|cricket]] and [[Australian Baseball League|baseball]].

The historic [[Prime Minister's XI]] cricket match is played at [[Manuka Oval]] annually.{{sfn|Growden|2008|pp=200-210}} Other significant annual sporting events include the [[Canberra Marathon]]<ref name="Canberra Marathon">{{cite news |title=Canberra Marathon |url=http://www.canberramarathon.com.au/ |publisher=[[Canberra Marathon]] |access-date=8 October 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110807061051/http://www.canberramarathon.com.au/ |archive-date=7 August 2011}}</ref> and the City of Canberra Half Ironman Triathlon.

Canberra has been bidding for an [[Australian Football League]] club since 1981 when [[Australian rules football in the Australian Capital Territory|Australian rules in the Australian Capital Territory]] was more popular.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article127058242 |title=Weaknesses exposed in VFL transfer plan |newspaper=[[The Canberra Times]] |volume=55 |issue=16,746 |location=Australian Capital Territory, Australia |date=2 August 1981 |access-date=9 December 2021 |page=6 |via=National Library of Australia |archive-date=19 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220219070532/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/127058242 |url-status=live}}</ref> While the league has knocked back numerous proposals, according to the AFL Canberra belongs to the [[Greater Western Sydney Giants]]<ref>[https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-expansion-tasmania-19th-team-northern-territory-afl-team-where-should-afl-expand-20-teams-in-afl/news-story/e68ec72b8103f3443b5b22059cd0dbe5 Tassie wants in, so does the NT. Where will AFL teams 19 and 20 come from?] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211202074248/https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-expansion-tasmania-19th-team-northern-territory-afl-team-where-should-afl-expand-20-teams-in-afl/news-story/e68ec72b8103f3443b5b22059cd0dbe5 |date=2 December 2021 }} Max Laughton. Fox Sports 5 March 2020</ref> who play three home games at Manuka Oval each season.

The [[Australian Institute of Sport]] (AIS) is located in the Canberra suburb of [[Bruce, Australian Capital Territory|Bruce]].{{sfn|Sparke|1988|p=304}} The AIS is a specialised educational and training institution providing coaching for elite junior and senior athletes in a number of sports. The AIS has been operating since 1981 and has achieved significant success in producing elite athletes, both local and international.{{sfn|Sparke|1988|p=304}} The majority of Australia's team members and medallists at the [[2000 Summer Olympics]] in Sydney were AIS graduates.<ref>{{cite news |title=History and successes |url=http://www.ausport.gov.au/ais/history |publisher=[[Australian Institute of Sport]] |access-date=8 October 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130118055747/http://www.ausport.gov.au/ais/history |archive-date=18 January 2013}}</ref>

Canberra has numerous sporting ovals, golf courses, skate parks, and swimming pools that are open to the public. Tennis courts include those at the National Sports Club, [[Lyneham, Australian Capital Territory|Lyneham]], former home of the [[Canberra Women's Tennis Classic]]. A Canberra-wide series of bicycle paths are available to cyclists for recreational and sporting purposes. Canberra Nature Parks have a large range of walking paths, horse and mountain bike trails. Water sports like sailing, rowing, dragon boating and water skiing are held on Canberra's lakes.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nationalcapital.gov.au/visiting/lake_burley_griffin/boating/ |title=Boating on Lake Burley Griffin |publisher=[[National Capital Authority]] |access-date=9 October 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070923025439/http://www.nationalcapital.gov.au/visiting/lake_burley_griffin/boating/ |archive-date=23 September 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Lake Burley Griffin reopens |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/11/16/2093294.htm |work=ABC News |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |access-date=26 July 2010 |date=16 November 2007 |archive-date=18 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110218155131/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/11/16/2093294.htm |url-status=dead}}</ref> The [[Rally of Canberra]] is an annual motor sport event, and from 2000 to 2002, Canberra hosted the [[Canberra 400]] event for [[V8 Supercars]] on the temporary [[Canberra Street Circuit]], which was located inside the Parliamentary Triangle.

A popular form of exercise for people working near or in the Parliamentary Triangle is to do the "bridge to bridge walk/run" of about 5&nbsp;km around [[Lake Burley Griffin]], crossing the [[Commonwealth Avenue Bridge]] and [[Kings Avenue, Canberra|Kings Avenue Bridge]], using the paths beside the lake. The walk takes about 1 hour, making it ideal for a lunchtime excursion. This is also popular on weekends. Such was the popularity during the [[COVID-19]] [[2020 coronavirus pandemic in Australia#Australian Capital Territory|isolation in 2020]] that the ACT Government initiated a 'Clockwise is COVID-wise' rule for walkers and runners.<ref name="2020-04-19_ABC">[https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-04-18/coronavirus-exercise-and-other-walking-tracks-in-canberra/12157876 Coronavirus restrictions-approved exercise in Canberra — excluding a walk around the lake] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200423123731/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-04-18/coronavirus-exercise-and-other-walking-tracks-in-canberra/12157876 |date=23 April 2020 }}, Niki Burnside, [[ABC News Online]], 19 April 2020</ref>