News.Scotland.Org

Taken the fame as the homeland of golf, in Scotland this time St. Andrews takes up the chance to play the game of golf. St. Andrews is the site for this year’s British Open Championship. The championship has already started on 15th July and will end on 18th July 2010.

The World’s greatest golfers will battle for the famous Claret Jug, won by Tiger Woods at the last two St Andrews Opens – 2000 and 2005. It will see the famous 17th “Road Hole”, possibly the most famous hole in golf, lengthened for the first time in over 100 years.

For Tiger Woods St. Andrews was his favorite course in the whole tour and the world. Phil Mickelson in turn praises the place by saying that he feels some kind of spirituality come over him when he plays here. Although the first few days here has seen inclement weather, once the first player tees off St. Andrews will work its magic.

Long before the championship, St.Andrews hotels and accommodation have faced tough competition for bookings and for rentals.

Following their sisters footsteps, James and Stephen Clegg are eyeing to make it to the Paralympics. These brothers from the Edinburgh’s Royal Blind School are the only two Scots in the Brithish disability squad who are successfully winning medals in a mix of competitions. Even both have broken British records in their age groups for visually-impaired swimmers.

Being brothers of a silver medal holder in the 2008 Paralympics in Beijing, both James 16 and Stephen 14 are looking up to make it to the Paralympics. Their sister Libby has won medals in both Paralympics and BBC Young sports personality of the year. Even after suffering from Stargardt’s disease – a deteriorating genetic eye condition which affects the central vision, these brothers and sisters have conquered all their odds and proven their talent in many tourneys.

James with his swimming abilities has been selected as an ambassador for the UK school games. Both the boys have performed exceptionally well in many competitions said, Paul Wilson, Disability performance manager at the University of Stirling. The mother of the boys expresses her gratitude towards the Royal blind school which had supported and motivated both the boys. With the aim to participate in the Paralympics James and Stephen are working hard to make it to the Paralympics, these kids have come up as the living examples of the adage “Where there is a will, there is a way”

Finally the new logo for the 2014 commonwealth games was launched amidst some chaos and fanfare.  It all started when the logo was found to be almost identical to the design created for the Common Guild 2007. Both the designs do had similarities which triggered a hullabaloo, with the game organisers claiming that the logo was an original piece of artwork.

Meanwhile Glasgow Tory MSP Bill Aitken said that he will be raising the issue with Games organisers due to the similarities among the two logos. The new logo has similarity with the old logo which raises a question on the originality of this new design. On other hand the game organisers strongly felt nothing to suspect regarding the logo, and it is well matched for the money paid for it.

Now it has to be seen that, what will be the fate of this new logo which has triggered a debate over its originality. Whatever the results might come, but all sport enthusiasts do hope this confusion won’t effect the preparations of the Glasgow 2014 games.

News Source :  Scotsman

For any lover of golf, here’s great news – the 2010 Open Championship at St.Andrews, the most storied and challenging course in Scotland- Golfing is just a few months away. One of golf’s four “Majors”, the Open Championship is the only one hosted outside of the United States. The Open is not tied to one course unlike the Masters and is conducted each year with a different classic course in England or Scotland.

Since 1990, the tournament has been here once in five years with Tiger Woods earning the winning trophy in 2000 and 2009. To be held on 15 to 18th of July, 2010, it is not alone the biggest golf event of the year in Scotland but also the biggest every five years with the most prestigious tournament coming to the most famous course in golf.

No destination quite like Scotland, for golfers and fans of the game to enjoy a great golfing holiday near the Old Course at St. Andrews in Fife, about a 30-mile drive north of Edinburgh. With hundreds of courses across the country, including some of the most famous in the world, there is no other more complete a golf destination than Scotland. With high roughs, unpredictable weather and world class competition, it will be very busy for all golf enthusiasts with loads of time to plan a fabulous Scotland tour.

Celebrating 21 years of show-stopping, eye popping and jaw dropping science, 2010 Edinburgh International Science Festival will be Europe’s largest public celebration of science and technology with 26 venues across Edinburgh and beyond. Topics ranging from hot issues of today to predictions of tomorrow, you can get down to see a stream of events that will rip the white coat off science revealing the bizarre, the intriguing and the occasionally mind-blowing.

Meet ASIMO – the world’s most advanced humanoid robot, when it visits Scotland for the very first time with its various collections. Scotland’s main science festival will showcase a new spin on ‘the beautiful game’ next month when a kick- about is staged between robots. An all- android football will be one among the main attractions in the Edinburgh science festival which will be  hosted in April by the world-leading robotics experts at the university’s School of Informatics.

Experts at the Edinburgh university will give an insight to what it takes to make a robot ‘bend it like Beckham” before letting the Android FC’s finest loose on the pitch. Others will give details about how the latest technology on robots are used to detect human emotions and simple changes in their facial expressions. The event would also take the audience through the process of creating the robots and the progress being made towards having a team of robots stage a proper match against the footballers.

The university’s series of events are expected to sale like hot cakes for the two-week festival with guest speakers including the biologist and author Richard Dawkins and psychiatrist Raj Persaud. Between 3-17 April , more than 200 events will be staged at various venues including the National Museum of Scotland and Our Dynamic Earth, the Royal Botanic Garden, the Jam House music venue, the Scotch Whisky Experience and the Filmhouse cinema.

The other main highlights of the festival include the installation of a huge 3D sound chamber at one of the city’s  best-known beauty spots, premiere of a new play inspired by the latest developments in the genetic engineering and a look at the evolution of heavy metal music. It also explores into the deeper insights of human beings – their darker side- to commit horrific acts of mutilation and murder; an examination into the latest forsenic science techniques that can crack crime cases, what are the concepts or ideas that lead a human to indulge in the seven deadly sins, and the best ways to make artificial blood.

To give the youngsters a chance to explore the science behind what happens when they get a cut or bruise , a “blood bar” is also being installed in the festival’s main venue – the City Art Centre.

Many other events like a look at the faulty maths equation that could have triggered the global economic meltdown, a singles night for science buffs, various animation techniques that have been used in the latest computer games and in films like Avatar, and what one can do to try to make a real robot do the same kind of things as well as respond like a human being with a sense of balance, motion and sensitivity.

A stellar collection of the country’s best science presenters, filmmakers, performers and comedians, this festival programme is going to be a great collection that will be on par with the very best science festivals in the world.

Edinburgh takes credit to some of the best tee courses in the whole of Scotland, which are quite popular  among the golfers all over the world. A golfer’s haven , Scotland has many excellent golf courses set amidst stunning natural spectacles well complemented by well equipped golf clubs and the fabled Scottish hospitality to make it an unbeatable experience. Golfing in Scotland has become a highly favored option even among celebrities like Madonna, Catherine Zeta Jones and Brad Pitt.

Golf is a relaxing and sociable game that allows you to mingle with the sporty Scots, who are passionate about this sport. One of the most popular golf green is the centrally located Merchants of Edinburgh, that offers the stunning views of the Edinburgh Castle and the Pentland Hills. The oldest active  golf course is Mortonhall. Located close to the post card pretty hinterlands and villages, these golf courses ensure the best views of the countryside of East Lothian. Musselburgh Golf Course, located very near to the Edinburgh bypass, dating back to 1672 has an impressive list of clientèle including Mary Queen of Scots  who is thought to have played here.

Golf is a great group activity and is well suited for groups like stag party or hen party revelers as it is a short duration game that could be combined with any other day time activity of your choice. And the best part is that any friends who are ;less enthusiastic about the game can indulge in sight seeing to soak up the quintessential charm of Edinburgh. There are many historical edifices, museums and live entertainment options apart from an impressive  bar and club scene that makes it an overwhelming experience. No matter whether you are green horn or experienced golfer, Edinburgh has some of the best tee courses you could ask for!

With a great snow holding record, Scotland’s oldest ski resort, Glencoe, has been struggling in the recent years to remain viable without summer attractions. Owing to lack of people visiting the resort, which has turned out to be a big frustration, the resort has planned to go local in bid to unlock funds. Come March end and once the snow disappears from the central belt, visitors think that Scottish skiing’s finished, not realising that they have some of the best skiing opportunities in store and awaiting them in the month of April with the sun on glow and when literally everybody can just wear a T-shirt and go skiing.

With a strong community support, more than 3,000 people signed an online “Save Glencoe” petition to be sent to the Scottish Parliament, when it looked like the resort, Glencoe, was facing the risk of remaining closed throughout the 2009/2010 season. Falkirk businessman Andy Meldrum believed that CIC is the best way to get major investment and after his last-ditch rescue bid, teams of local skiers volunteered to help with vital maintenance work so that the resort could open in time for the first major snowfalls of the season.

Whatever happens at the tail end of this season, Meldrum and his new team have already got off to a flying start, with more than 7,000 skier visits since 28 December. Last year’s total figure was 13,836, and the resort didn’t open until mid-January.

With the people they have got and the plans they have made, he promises that it will survive or they will have to go down in flames. If Meldrum’s CIC application is approved, it would become one of the largest Community Interest Companies in Scotland and it would be able to tap into previously unavailable funding streams and other big plans for the resort beyond the simple upgrading system what’s already there.

To boost up the trade during the summer months he hopes to add three new mountain bike trails, an adventure playground and accommodation for hikers walking the West Highland Way. For all this and for an aging infrastructure overhaul a seven-figure investment will go in hand. At the moment, it looks that they going to be way ahead as one of the top skiing resorts for anyone who wants to enjoy a great skiing holiday.

It will be a tough fight for Scotland team in the Euro 2012 qualifiers with Spain falling in their group. Other than Spain, the teams include, Czech Republic, Lithuania and Liechtenstein. Both the coach and players of Scotland team are quite excited about their clash with Spain. It was told that, the nine group winners and the best runner up will qualify for the finals in Poland and Ukraine.

The team manager for Scotland ‘Craig Levein’ said, it will be a daunting task for Scotland to beat Spain, but it will be a great occasion and all Scottish supporters will be excited about this game.  Levein also added that its long since we have played Spain in a competitive match.

Well, even though Scottish team has to face the all time favourite Spain, but it won’t be so tough for the Scottish team to come second in the five team group, if they play a good game. As per reports the first qualifying game will begin in October. Which means the team do have enough time to get ready for the big clash. Scotland needs to come up as a good side in the tourney and play a great game with proper game plan and strategy.

Now only time will tell whether Scotland will qualify for the Euro 2012. But analyst suggest that all eyes will be for that big match between Scotland and Spain.

News Source : BBC News

The first purpose-built platform for bungee jumping has been approved by the Perthshire councillors in UK. Garry Bridge situated north of Pitlochry in Perthshire, Highlands, has been chosen for building this structure. The platform will be constructed at Garry Bridge which crosses the River Garry approximately 3 miles north of Pitlochry and 1.5 miles south of Killiecrankie.

Bungee jumping aspirants can plunge off the 131 ft (40m) high bridge towards the meandering river diving from the platform only to be caught back by an elastic rope before hitting the surface of the river.

Even though the councillors in Kinross and Perth approved the structure, they have also imposed a few conditions,

• Jumping before 10 AM should be prohibited.
• After dark jumps should be reduced to three per month.
• The official also mentioned that if the project does not turn out a commercial success, the platform is required to removed completely to restore the bridge to the council.

With adventure tourism widely accepted as a vital and growing market for Scottish businesses, the bungee jumping platform will definitely prove to be an impetus to Scotland’s tourism.