Edinburgh’s Festival of Sport kicks off this weekend and runs until 8 September.
From aquafit and athletics through to volleyball and walking – and lots of sporting activities in between – there’s something for everyone at venues across the city.
See the above programme for details or visit:
www.activity.info/festivalofsport
New Trust formed to run the Sailing School at Port Edgar
A new trust is being set up to run a Sailing School at Port Edgar following the decision by Edinburgh Leisure to close the Watersports Centre there. The new trust, established by members of the community, plans to become a registered charity and buy the boating assets from Edinburgh Leisure to ensure the activities at Port Edgar can continue.
The trust aims to continue to provide a full range of courses and activities to children, adults, schools, sailing clubs and commercial businesses. It also plans to work closely with local authorities and RYA Scotland in developing its services, particularly for disadvantaged groups.
The trust will be called the Scottish Sailing Trust to demonstrate how convenient and accessible the location is for over 75% of the Scottish population and to demonstrate its aim to cover a wider area than just the local South Queensferry community.
The trustees have applied for a SportScotland grant to part-fund the acquisition of the Edinburgh Leisure assets but it also needs financial support from the public as well as local businesses and clubs to demonstrate the public support it has and to secure its future.
The appeal, which was formally launched yesterday (Tuesday 20 August), aims to raise a minimum of £5,000 and gain grant funding of £5 for every £1 raised.
Edinburgh Western MSP Colin Keir supports the community-led initative. He said: “This is local people taking charge of the situation in a bid to run the school alongside the successful sailing club. Many hundreds of people including youngsters will benefit from this.
“I congratulate the Scottish Sailing Trust for their efforts so far and offer them every assistance to get this great idea off the ground.”
Further details can be found at http://www.scottishsailingtrust.com
or email: info@scottishsailingtrust.com
Edinburgh Leisure and Active Schools teamed up again to stage Gymfest, a celebration of the city’s young gymnasts, at Broughton High School yesterday. And with financial support from Active City the annual display reached new heights – quite literally! 
A wide range of gymnasts from across the city took part in the Broughton spectacular – from enthusiastic new dancers and fun gymnasts (some performing in public for the first time) to top young athletes who already participate in competitions – and the packed audience was entertained from start to finish by some spectacular performances. 
Given the high standards throughout the afternoon it was fitting that all the participants received medals, so take a bow:
City of Edinburgh Gymnastics Club (Senior Team)
City of Edinburgh Broughton Recreation Team
Blackhall Primary School Gymnastics Club
Castlebrae Community High School Gymnastics Club
Broughton High School Gymnastics Club
City of Edinburgh Firrhill Recreation team
Tynecastle High School Gymnastics Club
Gylemuir Primary School Gymnastics Club
Granton Primary School Dance Group
Corstorphine Primary School Gymnastics Club
Ferryhill Primary School Gymnastics Group
Pentland Primary School Gymnastics Club
Stockbridge Primary Dance Group
City of Edinburgh Gymnastics Club Display Team
A whole host of agencies have got together to organise and support Inverleith’s Youth and Children’s Summer Park Events, and the programme kicks off at Ravleston Park on Monday (2 July) from 1 – 3pm with a portable football pitch, games, music, sports activities and more.
Further park events are planned at Ravelston again (Monday 16 July,1 -3pm), King George V (Monday 30 July 1- 4pm) and Inverleith Park (Friday 10 August 1- 4pm).
For more information contact Anne Brown at Inverleith CLD at Broughton High School, telephone 332 6316 or email anne.brown@ea.edin.sch.uk or check out the website www.joininedinburgh.org/holidayprogramme
And the agencies who have made the Summer Programme possible? In no particular order: Edinburgh Leisure, Glenogle Swim Centre, Fet Lor Youth Centre, Scotmid Co-operative, Inverleith Neighbourhood Partnership, CLD Inverleith, Library2go, Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre, sportscotland active schools Edinburgh & Lothian and Borders Police.
