Dundee Highland Games are unlikely to return unless a private body is willing to take on the running of the event.
Bob Duncan, chairman of Leisure and Culture Dundee, has said Dundee City Council would assist any group wanting to reinstate the games to the city social calendar. However, there is not sufficient public demand for the local authority to stage the event, he said.
Mr Duncan was speaking after the lord provost recently said he would champion a return for the games if there was sufficient public support (link).
The games, which have not been held in the city since 1998, remain hugely popular in communities around Dundee. However, financial considerations also mean the once popular event is unlikely to return.
”One of the problems with such an event is the large sums of cash that is required for prizes,” said Mr Duncan. ”We supply so much throughout the year the Flower and Food Festival and fireworks displays and trying to find a period to have Highland Games that didn’t clash with anything else would be difficult. We would be quite open to the idea if someone wanted to do it though.”
The 1998 games were the first staged in seven years and were organised by a group of local enthusiasts. Around 1,500 people attended a far cry from the event’s heyday in the 1970s and 1980s when thousands of people would cram into the arena to watch the athletes, dancers and musicians.
Despite the disappointing turnout, the group hoped to build the games up to their former glory however, no further competitions were held.
Lord Provost John Letford has said he would back calls for a return if the local public were enthusiastic towards the idea. He described a possible comeback as ”an intriguing prospect,” but added that financial constraints would have to be taken into consideration in these austere times.
However, with the prospect of a local authority-backed Highland Games virtually ruled out, a sponsored event, as seen in communities in Fife, would seem to be the only way of reinstating the games in Dundee.
Mr Duncan added his belief that re-establishing the event would be incredibly difficult in a city with so much going on.
”It’s fair to say that it’s unlikely they would be popular enough to bring back in the near future,” he continued. ”I think it’s an establishment thing.
”If Highland Games have been established over the years then it’s probably the only major event taking place in that town throughout the year. Plus, these things can take a while to build up an audience.”