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Spòrs Mòr Event For Gaelic Medium Pupils

17th March 2009

The Highland Council is working in partnership with Comunn na Gàidhlig, to develop a national pilot event, Spòrs Mòr, for Primary 6 Gaelic Medium Education (GME) pupils.

The event, which will take place in Stirling on the 11 and 12 May, aims to be fun, non-competitive and provide the opportunity for pupils to meet with other Gaelic Medium pupils from other schools throughout Scotland. A total of 80 young people are expected to attend.

Spòrs Mòr will form part of the Curriculum for Excellence and is funded by Bòrd na Gàidhlig - the National Gaelic Agency, Comunn na Gàidhlig (CnaG), The Highland Council with support from Fèisean nan Gàidheal.

The Highland Council's Gaelic Development Officer Morag Anna MacLeod said: "The activities within Spòrs Mòr, incorporate the main capacity areas within the Curriculum for Excellence, such as the Expressive Arts, and an Appreciation of other World Cultures. The young people will also be learning about the environment and nature whilst outdoors. The aim of Spòrs Mòr is to ensure that the young people meet others who are also being educated through Gaelic and have the opportunity to participate and use their language skills in a different environment, and at the same time they are learning new leisure and sporting skills and having fun."

Pupils and teachers will arrive on Monday 11th and will be staying overnight in Scottish Youth Hostel Association accommodation in Stirling with all meals provided. The evening activities will include 'icebreakers' and a contemporary music event.

Activities on Tuesday will include Gaelic Drama, Tae Kwon Do, Environmental Activities and a Sporting Event.

Chairman of The Highland Council's Gaelic Committee, Councillor Hamish Fraser said: "I am delighted that The Highland Council and Comunn na Gàidhlig are taking a lead role in organising Spòrs Mòr. The Council's Gaelic Language Plan does stress the importance of language acquisition, and the importance of language use and interaction especially for young people. A national pilot event such as Spòrs Mòr will offer this opportunity for young people. It is excellent that young people from rural areas in the Highlands will meet other young people from other parts of Scotland, such as Stirling, Glasgow and Edinburgh, and I wish the event every success."

Fay McDiarmid, Youth Development Manager Comunn na Gàidhlig said: "I am pleased that some schools have already responded confirming that they will be participating in Spòrs Mòr and we still have places available. All the young people participating will also receive free promotional materials as a reminder of the event. We at Comunn na Gàidhlig appreciate how important it is for young Gaelic speakers to have opportunities to meet each other and use Gaelic out with the school environment and it also gives the various organisations an opportunity to work in partnership with financial assistance from Bòrd na Gàidhlig."