As one might expect from a city the size of London, the sporting opportunities are virtually endless. From rugby, football, golf or tennis to the less mainstream sports such as wakeboarding and rock climbing, London offers an almost unbelievable range of sports at numerous levels. Whatever sport you are interested in, and whether you are a seasoned professional, an aspiring amateur or a willing beginner, you are sure to find something close by.
London itself is a city with a real passion for sport, epitomised in many ways including its winning bid for the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2012, and by its hosting of a multitude of world-class sporting events. Whether you enjoy an afternoon's cricket at Lords, catch a football game at the new Wembley stadium, take in an international rugby match at Twickenham, or go to any of the hundreds of club grounds all around our nation's capital, London is sure to offer enough variety to keep even the most prolific sporting enthusiast entertained.
At Allen & Overy we try to keep at pace with London's sporting diversity. There is a large, modern, fully equipped 24-hour gym in the office which is free to join. There are also many different classes and workout sessions available should you want some structured fitness, and personal trainers are available at subsidised prices should you want more of an individual focus and a sports hall which any member of the firm can book throughout the day to play 4-a-side football, badminton, and other team sports. Many departments organise their own weekly (or even more regular!) football sessions, and periodic inter-departmental grudge-matches are not unknown!
Often sport at Allen & Overy extends beyond the confines of the office, with members of the firm organising sports teams and sporting outings amongst themselves. Be it competing in a local 5-a-side football game, testing your mettle with the Climbing Club, weekend sailing regattas with the Sailing Club, a round of golf with the Golf Club, or some wakeboarding and waterskiing with the Water sports Club, there is generally a club or group of people within Allen & Overy which will match sporting interest. If there isn't, you are of course very welcome to set one up!
For those who take a more active and organised interest in sport, there are a huge number of different sports teams at Allen & Overy which cater for the range of sporting interests in the firm and who compete at various levels – 35 teams at the last count. Whether it's the Allen & Overy Rugby Club who got to the semi-final of the London City League Plate in 2009, the Football Club who compete year-round in the London Legal League, the cricket team who organise matches throughout the summer, or the Softball Club who brought home the silverware by winning the Plate in the London Softball Legal League in 2009, Allen & Overy puts its name to many different sporting pursuits giving you the chance to have a great day out not to mention a few drinks and a nice meal afterwards on the relevant sporting budget!