Safety first as Stirling Games cancelled again
Stirling Highland Games has been cancelled for a second year due to the pandemic.
The popular event had been due to take place at Stirling Sports Village on August 21 but organisers have taken the decision to cancel on the grounds of safety.
The games’ organisers however are planning to repeat last year’s successful online event dubbed ‘The Best of Stirling’.
Stirling Highland Games president Matt McGrandles said this week: “It has been another frustrating year for the games committee.
“We really wanted the gathering to happen, but in the interests of safety and to protect our community, volunteers and supporters, we just felt that the timings aren’t quite there yet for us to be completely confident.
“We are also worried about the number of visitors able to attend events safely, so we decided that the best way forward was to look at delivering another virtual Stirling Highland Games event.”
Stirling Highland Games normally attracts thousands of visitors from oversees and around the UK and generates up to £500,000 for the city economy.
The organisers are currently speaking with sponsors on supporting the virtual Stirling Highland Games plans.
Last year’s online event featured ‘The Fling It At Home’ games competition, ‘The Bruce Challenge’ strength competition, track and field, Stirling Gaelic Choir, best visitor attractions, best tours, Balaklava Pipes and Drums and features on Bannockburn House and the Wallace Monument.
The 2021 finalised programme is scheduled to be shown online on the official event day, Saturday August 21.
It is expected that a socially distanced Heavyweights gathering and The Bruce Challenge competition will again take place.
The committee are also hoping to secure sponsorship of the track gathering, highland dancing and an adaptive gathering as part of the online event programme.
Anyone interested in more details or sponsorship can contact: office@ stirlinghighlandgames.com