STUDENT athletes are being urged to look at taking up Highland Games disciplines as organisers attempt to prevent a drop in the number of competitors and save the traditional sport.
The Royal Scottish Highland Games Association (RSHGA) and Scottish Student Sport are preparing to launch a campaign next year to try and encourage young athletes who do similar sports – such as heavy throwing or weightlifting – to consider taking up an event.
Several Highland Games events – including a large festival in Shotts - were called off this year as they struggled to attract athletes, volunteers, ticket sales and sponsors in the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic.
And Linda Edmunds, secretary and treasurer of the Carmunock Highland Games, said there need to be concerted efforts made to make more young people aware of the sport.
She said: “There is a problem [with getting people involved] but hopefully it’s being recognised.
READ MORE: Nicola Sturgeon has some advice for Rishi Sunak as he becomes prime minister
“I think a push is absolutely needed because I think, apart from anything else, a lot of children and young adults just don’t know they could be doing it.
“They’re just not really aware of it and it’s a shame because it’s because of the national heritage of Scotland, and the Highland Games is so big in other countries now while it’s showing signs of decline here.
“I think it’s often the case young people come to the Highland Games events but they don’t actually think ‘I could be doing this’, so I think a campaign is important.”
Edmunds previously told The National how more events are getting chopped as each year passes, with athletes not coming through in the number they used to.
She put this partly down to field sports not being taught as much in schools and she still feels that, even though a campaign may help to raise awareness Highland Games, there is still an issue beyond that in students not being taught basic transferrable skills.
Edmunds added: “I think there is still an issue with the fact students don’t take part in field sports as much as they did.
“It would help drastically if this could somehow change because if you are good at shotput or hammer you have all the movements that you need.
“You do need to have certain skills and if you are not taught that then you’re not going to move towards Highland Games events.”
Carmunnock’s games – one of the first of the season – had to be pulled this year due to organisers not having enough time to get everything in place after the lifting of Covid restrictions.
But Edmunds said things are looking positive for next year.
“It’s looking good for next year, we’ve already got people want to know when it is and hopefully we’ll have enough athletes,” she said.
“We try to get people to confirm that they are coming to compete before the Games happen so we have a full complement.”
READ MORE: Five of Rishi Sunak's worst moments as he gears up to be prime minister
Ian Grieve, secretary of the RSHGA, said the partnership with Scottish Student Sport was a “long-term project” he hopes will turn around a reduction in the number of registered athletes this year.
He said: “Our numbers were pretty healthy during the season in all disciplines, but we’re always keen to attract new athletes as that will be the future of Highland games.
“We already have a few students competing regularly and hope that this will spread and new ones will come along and enjoy the competition and atmosphere they will experience.
“There was a slight reduction in the number of registered athletes this year. I think what we experienced is like many other organisations getting back after a two-year break. This season was all about us getting our events back on and a platform to build on for the future, which we are confident will come.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here