‘Hard decision’ as Games are pulled
Event is pandemic casualty
Another staple of the Stirling calendar has bitten the dust after this year’s Highland Games were cancelled.
Organisers still remained hopeful that the event, due to take place on August 15, would go ahead until last week but after failing to receive the necessary assurances over the viability of large gatherings later in the year, they have been forced to pull the plug.
In their announcement of the decision, the organisers acknowledged the importance of the event to the city and the surrounding economy but said the safety of visitors, competitors and officials was of “paramount importance”.
The traditional competition was set to take place at Stirling Sports Village, with thousands set to turn out to enjoy a range of Highland Games competitions, as well as a range of other activities on site.
It’s the latest local event to bite the dust due to the Covid-19 pandemic, with the Stirling Marathon cancelled alongside a number of agricultural shows from all over the region - including Stirling; Doune and
Dunblane; and Drymen.
Matt McGrandles, president of Stirling Highland Games, said: “We still find ourselves in a state of uncertainty so the main Highland Games event will now be cancelled as we join others in the fight against this global pandemic and to suppress the virus.”
He went on: “I think I speak on behalf of all the committee when I say it has been a very hard decision to make, not least because it was our 150th year anniversary event.
“We had a number of ideas coming to fruition this year we had hoped to share with everyone. We will now take some time to reflect and consider how we announce these over the next few months.
All stakeholders for the event will be contacted in the coming weeks by organisers, with those who had already bought tickets for the 2020 show being reassured that these will carry over to next year’s Games.
Anyone with queries or who has not been contacted in relation to the Games by the end of May should get in touch via email at office@stirlinghighlandgames. com.