What's New

• 28 January 2010

  Sean Lineen adds his touch of class to Scotland's World Cup

  

  Scotland’s Touch World Cup 2011 is launched today, January 28, with the announcement of Grand Slam winner and Scotland A coach Sean Lineen as the tournament’s official ambassador.

  Lineen, the Glasgow Warriors and Scotland A head coach, will be the public figurehead for the tournament being held in Edinburgh in June 2011. The 29-times capped Grand Slam winner helped bring the sport of touch to Scotland in the early 1990s, and it has grown rapidly in popularity and participant numbers since.

  Sean Lineen said: “Hosting the Touch World Cup 2011 in Edinburgh is a great opportunity to showcase this fast-growing and dynamic sport and to see its best athletes in action. Touch is an excellent sport for all; it has great skills, it’s excellent for keeping active and fit, it’s fun to play and it has a great social environment around it.”

  The quadrennial Touch World Cup is the most prestigious event in the sport's calendar. Next year’s tournament will be the seventh touch world cup and the first ever held in Europe. At least 1,700 competitors from an estimated 25 nations will take part in the five-day event Edinburgh's Peffermill Sports Ground from 22 to 26 June 2011.

  The direct economic impact of the event is conservatively estimated to be an additional £1.5 million to the city. The Scottish Touch Association (STA) won the right to hold the Touch World Cup during the 2007 cup in South Africa, and is working with partners EventScotland and City of Edinburgh Council.

  Paul Bush OBE, Chief Operating Officer at EventScotland, the national events agency, said:  “Touch is a rapidly growing sport in Scotland and it is estimated that more than 5,000 people now regularly play in organised competitions around the country.  Its popularity here, combined with an unrivalled reputation for hosting major rugby tournaments, will make Scotland a fantastic host for Touch World Cup 2011 and we’re excited to be the first European host for this prestigious event. 

  Category: International Events
• 21 January 2010

  Increase in Edinburgh youngsters achieving sporting excellence

  

  The sporting talents of young people in Edinburgh are being recognised as more achieve sporting excellence.

  In 2008/09 over 80% of pupils attending the City of Edinburgh Schools Sports Academy achieved selection into regional or national squads.

  Around 90 pupils from 19 different Edinburgh secondary pupils attend the academy, which features badminton, basketball, cricket, cycling and football programmes.

  And last year, the Council set up two additional Talent Development Programmes. An ‘advanced player development Centre’ for football was set up a Meggetland Sports Complex and for cycling an ‘Advanced Rider Development Centre' was set up at Liberton High School.

  A key focus of the Scottish Government’s 2014 Commonwealth Legacy Plan is the introduction of ‘Community Sporting Hubs’.  The City of Edinburgh Council would like extend its sports academy to primary school age children and develop a possible collaboration with independent schools.

  The Council is keen to explore the idea of independent schools particularly situated in close proximity to state schools working together to bring added value to the national initiative.

  Category: Industry News
• 19 January 2010

  BUPA Great Edinburgh Run given Royal Seal of Approval

  

  Thousands of runners will this year cross the Forecourt of the historic Palace of Holyroodhouse during the Bupa Great Edinburgh Run on Sunday 2nd May. 

  By kind permission of Her Majesty The Queen, the route of the 2010 Bupa Great Edinburgh Run will pass across the Forecourt of her official Scottish residence just before runners reach the finish line of the 10k course.

  The event, which is once again expected to attract more than 10,000 runners of all abilities to the city, will begin and end within sight of the Palace within the ground of Holyrood Park.

  Andy Mitchelmore, Senior Events Manager for organisers Nova International, said: “The Bupa Great Edinburgh Run is already widely recognised as one of the world’s most scenic 10km events.  The route has always taken runners past most of the city’s most famous landmarks but being able to actually run through the grounds of the Palace of Holyroodhouse makes this years course extra special.  We hope this encourages more people to participate.

  Category: International Events