Holyrood will welcome participants of the 2008 International SchoolSport Federation (ISF) World Schools Orienteering Championships this weekend.

The competition’s opening ceremony took place in the Garden Lobby of the Scottish Parliament on Tuesday, followed by the closing ceremony in the landscaped gardens on Saturday 26 April from 2pm.

The Scottish Parliament’s Presiding Officer will host the events, alongside the Health and Sport Committee Convener Christine Grahame MSP. This is the first ISF Championship held in the UK. 

The ISF is the World organising body for school sport.  With a membership of over 60 countries from all five continents, the Federation organises World Championships in a wide range of sports. 

Presiding Officer Alex Fergusson MSP said:

"Orienteering is obviously a very challenging sport, and although a competition, this event provides the opportunity for young people from across the globe to come together in the spirit of international friendship."

The ceremonies are part of a week long festival of sport, cultural, social and educational activities for the 450 participants between 13 and 16 years of age from 20 countries – Austria, Belgium, China, England, Estonia, Finland, France, Ireland, Israel, Italy, New Zealand, Latvia, Poland, Portugal, Scotland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Turkey.  During the week, participants will take part in three races, one in Fife, Stirling and Edinburgh

During the week, 80 Scottish school pupils from the following 12 schools will take part:
 
• Aboyne Academy (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine);
• Belmont Academy (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley);
• Biggar High School (Clydesdale);
• Craigmount High (Edinburgh West);
• Currie High (Edinburgh Pentlands);
• Douglas Academy (Clydebank and Milngavie);
• Firrhill High (Edinburgh Pentlands);
• Jedburgh Grammar (Roxburgh and Berwickshire);
• Kilmarnock Academy (Kilmarnock and Loudoun);
• Lanark Grammar (Clydesdale);
• Peebles High (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale);
• St. Thomas Aquinas (Glasgow Anniesland).

Prior to the closing ceremony on Saturday 26 April, there is an opportunity for all the schoolchildren, coaches and heads of delegations to take part in a friendship relay where teams of three orienteers from different nations compete in a fast, furious and friendly race in Edinburgh city centre including Holyrood Park.