Come and join in the fun of a games day

WHAT do the tiny village of Southend, Kintyre, (population 490) and Las Vegas (population two million) have in common?

Both host their own annual Highland games. Along with whisky and tartan, Highland culture’s other great export is a good old-fashioned games day.

When earthquakes ravaged New Zealand in 2011 the people of Hororata started their own Highland games to help the town get back on its feet and raise everyone’s spirits.

In a world where people rely on satellites and internet for entertainment there is no greater compliment than the fact that all over the globe people turn out to enjoy our Highland culture, be it dancing, piping, tossing the caber, throwing the hammer and wearing the kilt.

And just like us, here in the West Highlands and Islands, all over the world there are dancers and pipers rehearsing, athletes in training, heavy athletes working out in the gym - all getting ready for their big day with volunteers arranging and organising the event.

Highland games evolved from clan gatherings to find the strongest warriors for the battles, the swiftest runners as messengers and the best dancers and pipers to entertain the clan chiefs and their guests.

So turn out and support the games this summer and enjoy a tradition that stretches back through the centuries and which, as it goes forward, has travelled to all points of the compass.