Inverness Chosen As Venue For Highland Games Master World Championships (09/06/05)

Inverness has been chosen as the venue for next year’s 2006 Highland Games Masters World Championships.

Confirmation has been received by The Highland Council from the Board of Scottish Masters Athletics International in the USA, who voted unanimously to bring the event to the Highlands as part of the City of Inverness Highland Games in July 2006.

SMAI official Bill Scuggs revealed that the Board of Directors were very excited about bringing the Championships to the Capital of the Highlands and thanked the Council for putting together such a "thorough and quality proposal".

Following the success of last month’s bid to secure the World Highland Games Heavy Championships for the City in 2007, hosting the Masters next year will give the Inverness Games the unique honour of being the first Games in the world chosen to stage both World Championships in consecutive years.

Games Committee Chairman Councillor Angus Dick said: "To have the City of Inverness Highland Games chosen to host the Masters is a great honour and really wonderful news. Knowing that the very best Highland Games athletes in the World are coming to compete in the Highlands at our Gathering is very exciting indeed."

The Masters is the heavy championship for competitors over 40 years of age and runs in five year age bands up to 65 and over.

ENDS