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HIGHLAND GAMES OPEN UP NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR FEMALE ATHLETES
HIGHLAND GAMES OPEN UP NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR FEMALE ATHLETES
Recent press release below, please read to end for SHGA further comment
The opportunities for female athletes will multiply this year thanks to the Scottish Highland Games Association (SHGA) and their membership of 60 events across Scotland.
SHGA Secretary Ian Grieve said: “Talking to people and looking at what was in the press, we found that there wasn’t a good awareness of what Highland games can offer female athletes, and there was more we can do to help that situation”.
“We get lots of male and only some female competitors, but would like to see a lot more” said SHGA Secretary Ian Grieve. “To help encourage more female athletes, we’ve asked our members to run athletic events on either a handicap basis (to level the playing field), or separate events for men and women or, if they cannot accommodate that, to record winning places for both genders, giving male and female athletes the same opportunities to get placings and prizes”.
Additionally, the SHGA has created a number of new leagues that will run for female athletes, alongside those for males, so athletes competing regularly will get rewarded at the end of the season with trophies and cash prizes, regardless of gender.
To help make sure athletes are aware of these positive changes, the SHGA has reached out to all the 100-plus athletic clubs in Scotland, so they can let their athletes know of the games events.
“We’ve also printed and distributed 10,000 calendars of events, showing where athletes can compete, plus made it available on our website, all for free. The aim of all this is to raise the number of female athletes at the Highland games; if they come along they will be made very welcome” said Ian.
Further information about events, registering, entering etc is available on the SHGA Website www.shga.co.uk, or from the SHGA Secretary at secretary@shga.co.uk (Note that some events require entry before the day so please check in advance).
SHGA ADDITIONAL COMMENT - CONTRARY TO SOME INACCURATE PRESS REPORTS, THERE HASN’T BEEN ANY RESTRICTION ON FEMALE ATHLETES, THEY’RE ALREADY COMPETING AND HAVE BEEN FOR YEARS, THIS IS ABOUT BOOSTING THE LEVELS OF PARTICIPATION. ALSO THERE ARE INACCURATE CLAIMS THAT IT’S ABOUT SECURING FUNDING WHICH IS WRONG, SHGA DOESN’T RECEIVE GOVERNMENT FUNDING AND ISN’T SEEKING IT IN THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE.
Published: 2019-05-09 09:53:57
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