Orkney plays host to Sportscotland conference

A conference bringing together performance sport’s service providers and partners in the Highlands and Islands local authorities gets under way at the Pickaquoy Centre today, Saturday.

The sportscotland institute of sport for Highlands and Islands will join the decision-makers and strategists for sport delivery in Orkney, Shetland, and Western Isles to recognise their achievements and discuss the necessary steps to continue delivering successful outcomes in future.

Coach and best-selling author Donald MacNaugton will deliver the keynote speech on Saturday afternoon, and sportscotland will facilitate workshops designed to provide the partners with a clearer understanding of how the respective performance environments operate, examine the necessary actions to continuing progressing, and how to share best practise and ideas.

Chris Hildrey, of sportscotland, said: “This conference provides us with the perfect platform to discuss how service providers, local authorities and trusts in Highland and Islands can continue developing both athletes and coaches while making better use of facilities and resources through a partnership approach.

“We are looking to share best practise across the four local authorities in the region and tailor our service provision to continue developing the world-class sporting system.”