Highland Games: The Scottish equivalent of Olympics
Who doesn’t love a fun-filled healthy competition? After all, global sporting events such as the Olympics or the Invictus Games are meant to be just that. But did you know that there’s another sporting event that offers athletes similar opportunities? We are talking about the Highland Games of Scotland. It includes an array of track and field sports apart from dance contests. And guess what? It’s incomplete without bagpipes. But why? It’s a Scottish tradition after all!
Highland Games: A bird’s eye view
The origin of this sporting event can be traced back to 2000 B.C. Ireland. Yes, you read that right, it’s not Scotland. However, over the years, a part of the Irish population migrated to Scotland, the games went with them. In fact, the first known Highland Games was started by Malcolm III, the King of Scotland, in 1040 B.C. in Braemar, Scotland. You’ll be surprised to know why he introduced the Games. Turns out, he used the contests to hire a brand-new royal army based on the skills of the competitors.
Since then, Highland Games are held annually during spring or summer across Scotland or in countries with large Scottish population, such as Canada, USA, Australia and New Zealand. It’s deemed as a way to celebrate the Scottish and Celtic culture, especially that of Scottish Highlands. Interestingly, the largest Highland Games is known as Cowal Games and is held in Dunoon, Scotland every August. Wait, there’s another fun fact for you, turns out, the father of modern Olympics, Pierre de Coubertin was inspired by the Highland Games when he was planning the revival of the Olympics in the late 19th century.
Main attractions of the Highland Games
The Highland Games in the Scottish community is as much of a social event as it is a sporting one. Maybe that’s why thousands of people from around the world come together to attend it, along with friends and families. But the biggest attractions are of course the wide range of games. Here are some of them.
Caber toss
For those unaware, tossing the caber and Highland Games have almost become synonymous these days. In this game, a full-length log or a caber (made up of Scots pine) is made to stand upright and the player lifts it placing both his hands under the bottom of the caber to support it against his body. Following this, the player runs forward, gathers momentum and finally tosses the caber into the air. The caber should ideally land on the sharper side, while the blunt side remains high above the ground. Whoever throws their log the most straight, wins. Did you just think about the javelin throw from the Olympics? Well, it’s definitely alike.
Hammer throw
In this game, the player throws a hammer that is made out of a metal ball attached to a wooden handle. The goal is simple, to spin in circles and whirl the hammer around the head and throw it as far as possible. The hammer usually weighs 22lb for men and 16lb for women.
Shot put
This one also includes throwing, but instead of a log or a hammer, it’s a fairly large stone. The goal is exactly the same, to throw it as far as possible. The stone usually weighs 20 to 26 lbs. Also, the stone can either be thrown by standing at a fixed position or after a short run-up to the toe board. Whoever throws the farthest, is declared the winner.
Weight for height
Also referred to as the weight over the bar, this is a game where the players toss a heavy object (ideally 56lb) over a raised bar. The rule is simple, to use one hand only. There are multiple attempts and after each successful ones, the bar is raised higher.
Tug of war
Tug of war or tug o’ war is what makes Highland Games complete. Two teams comprising of eight players stand on opposite side of a long rope and start pulling. The goal is to pull the opponent towards the centre line.
The dances
As mentioned earlier, bagpipes are one of the most important parts of Highland Games and they are often accompanied by traditional dances such as the Highland fling or sword dance. The major attraction is the dress called kilt, that is like a knee-length pleated skirts and is worn by Scottish boys.