Tag: Sport

Gemme on?

jim-baxter

A Green MSP is campaigning for all of Scotland’s qualification football matches to be made available to watch on terrestrial television.

Ahead of Scotland’s game against England on Friday, Alison Johnstone MSP is calling for the SFA to sign a deal with a free-to-air broadcaster to allow more fans to watch Scotland attempt to qualify for a major tournament. Matches involving Gordon Strachan’s team are broadcast exclusively on Sky until 2018.

However, Scotland’s game with the Auld Enemy at Wembley will screen live on STV, but only because of the English FA’s broadcast agreement with sister channel ITV.

Alison Johnstone, health spokesperson for the Scottish Greens and MSP for Lothian, said: “More and more sport is moving to subscription-based TV channels. The BBC lost rights to show the Open golf to Sky and punters wanting to watch European football have to tune in to BT Sport for the Champions League and the Europa League.

“Fans shouldn’t feel like they have to fork out large sums of money to pay for sports channels, nor should they feel the need to cram into a pub to see a game. It’s understandable that the SFA will want to do a deal with the highest bidder, but considering England qualifiers are shown for free on ITV, there’s no reason why Scotland games can’t be shown on one or more terrestrial channel.

“We want children in Scotland to be inspired by the athletes they see on TV and a deal for future qualification matches on terrestrial could help us to produce the next Kenny Dalglish or Denis Law. At very least, it’ll encourage more children to go outside, kick a ball and play with friends.”

Alison, a qualified athletics coach and former competitive runner, added: “Ofcom’s code on designated live sports events rightly lists the World Cup and the European Championship finals as must-show games on territorial TV. It would be better if it was MSPs, rather than MPs, deciding what goes on that list and I suspect many at Holyrood would support free-to-air Scotland games if the ability to do so is devolved.”  Continue reading Gemme on?

Morrisons local derby raises over £1200 for charity

Morrisons Charity Match 1

Sunday 28 August saw the battle of all battles. Morrisons Granton took on Morrisons Ferry Road in a Charity Football match held at The Spartans Football Club’s Ainslie Park Stadium. The result was a victory for Ferry Road – and over £1200 raised for charity! Continue reading Morrisons local derby raises over £1200 for charity

Try table tennis at Leith Victoria

table-tennis

Been inspired by table tennis at this year’s Rio Olympics and want to have a go? Now you can at Edinburgh Leisure’s Leith Victoria Swim Centre.

The session will be held at the following times of the week in studio 2:

Day Time
Monday 09:00 – 13:00
Wednesday 12.00 – 17:00
Friday 14.30 -17.00
Saturday 12:00 – 17:00
Sunday 13:00 – 19.00

Nicola Duffy, General Manager at Edinburgh Leisure’s Leith Victoria Swim Centre said: “Table tennis is a great way to exercise the body and mind, whilst developing hand co-ordination. A game of table tennis can be surprisingly intense and can really get the heart pumping. It also improves cardiovascular fitness and endurance levels.

“Table tennis is one of the most accessible sports around – it can be played at any level from the Olympics to an impromptu game in your dining room with a line of old videos as a net or indeed at Leith Victoria. We’ve got the equipment and bats and balls. You just need to turn up.”

Table tennis helped end the Cold War. In 1971, a group of US players became the first Americans to visit China since it had become a Communist state in 1949. The trip, which spawned the phrase “ping-pong diplomacy” is often credited with reviving diplomatic relations between the countries.

Booking is recommended for each 60 minute session. Edinburgh Leisure is offering 50% off prices quoted below from 1 September – 1 December.

Cost
Standard £8.10
Discount Card / Members £6.05
65+ & Concession Discount Card £4.90
Junior & Disability Discount Card £4.10
Young Scot (during timeframe) £2.00

To book in for the event contact: Edinburgh Leisure’s Leith Victoria Swim Centre on 0131 555 4728 or visit the reception at Leith.

For further information, visit:  www.edinburghleisure.co.uk

Rangers seek urgent talks following Cup Final report

pagger1

Rangers are seeking an urgent meeting with the Scottish Football Association following the publication of the report in trouble at May’s Scottish Cup Final. The Ibrox club believes the report is flawed, and contains ‘factual inaccuracies and contradictions’. 

Continue reading Rangers seek urgent talks following Cup Final report

Local twirlers fly the flag for Scotland

Megan and Chloe

TWO local young women will fly the flag for Scotland when they take part in the World Baton Twirling championships in Helsingborg, Sweden next week – and they’ll carry the support of both local MSP Ben Macpherson and the Scottish Parliament! Continue reading Local twirlers fly the flag for Scotland