Road to Hampden Tour dates unveiled
Cabinet Secretary Kenny MacAskill launched the Road to Hampden Tour on 23 December 2009. The tour will comprise five free regional football festivals in Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Dundee and Ayrshire, culminating in Glasgow on cup final day on 15 May 2010.
Children, families and communities will be urged to take small steps to get more active in time for the Active Nation Scottish Cup final, when the Road to Hampden Tour gets underway in January 2010.
The five football festivals will be complemented by local mini road shows across the nation to provide football coaching to kids in primary schools by professional Scottish Football Association coaches.
The first regional football festival takes place at Meadowbank Stadium in Edinburgh on Monday 4 January 2010, when hundreds of children will get the chance to train at a specially-created inflatable football academy with coaches and families can try"taster gym class sessions" to encourage them to take up a new activity.
Cabinet Secretary Kenny MacAskill said: "We want to encourage people to make lasting lifestyle changes which will improve their health, their family's health and the country's health.
"The Active Nation Scottish Cup offers the perfect platform to get more people thinking about their health and making changes that will benefit them in the future. Getting the country active will result in a legacy that Scotland can truly be proud of.
"I hope the young people attending these events across Scotland, enjoy the chance to develop their football skills with the help of the Scottish FA coaches, while also learning more about the benefits of an active lifestyle."
Gordon Smith, Chief Executive at the Scottish FA said, "The Road to Hampden tour is a tremendous initiative, taking one of the most prestigious trophies in world football to a new generation. The planned festivals are also an excellent way to engage with school children, families and communities in general, with the ultimate aim of making Scotland a more active nation. Whether football is your first love or not, the Road to Hampden tour will help promote fitness and wellbeing at all ages, across the country."
The Road to Hampden tour is the central activity of the Active Nation campaign's partnership with the Scottish Cup. Active Nation is part of A games legacy for Scotland - the new national plan which aims to leave a lasting economic, social and cultural legacy from the 2014 Commonwealth Games and other major sporting events taking place in Scotland.