Perth mini Olympics hailed as "success"

Aug 13 2010 by Gordon Bannerman, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

Perth mini Olympics

PERTH and Kinross Sports Council’s Mini Olympics have been hailed as a "runway success".

Although a regular on the calendar, this year's multi-event showpiece was planned with the Fair City's 800th anniversary in mind.

And competitors enjoyed it so much that a German delegation from Aschaffenburg are plotting a repeat in two years’ time.

Sports Council chief Bob Ellis said: “The invasion of athletes from our twinned cities of Aschaffenburg in Germany and Bydgoszcz in Poland proved to be a tremendous success.

“The teams arrived on August 1 and the first event they attended was a civic reception hosted by Provost John Hulbert at Dewar’s Rinks.”

The visitors were based at the Holiday Inn Express in Perth and a range of events took place throughout the area. The golf was ‘teed-up’ at Blairgowrie’s Rosemount, gymnastics were staged in Auchterarder and Bell’s Sports Centre and badminton and table tennis were played under the dome at Bell’s.

Swimming was held at Perth Leisure Pool and the football at McDiarmid Park.

Mr Ellis added: “We also held a mini Highland games event at the George Duncan Athletics Track where the athletes from Bydgoszcz reigned supreme.

“There was also entertainment held on every evening and this culminated in a ceilidh and prize-giving in Dewar’s Rinks.

“Of course, this successful event could not have taken place if it were not for a successful application for European funding and also the very generous support of all of our sponsors. These included Perth Common Good Fund, Gannochy Trust, Stagecoach, Highland Spring and Aviva.

“There were many other sponsors and I’d like to thank them all for their backing.

“I would also like my thanks to go to Elaine Oliver, who was the Mini Olympics sub-committee chairperson.

“Without her and her teams’ commitment and hard work, these games would not have been as successful as they were.

“Finally, congratulations go to the overall winners, Aschaffenburg. The early intimations are that Aschaffenburg will be hosting the next event in 2012.”