10 March 2008

Following the record preliminary entry for the 36th IAAF World cross Country Championships in Edinburgh on the weekend of 29th/30th March, there are just a few countries remaining in the Adopt-a-Nation programme.

Schools and clubs are invited to contact katie.horne@scottishathletics.org.uk by Saturday 15th March if they wish to be included in this activity which comprises:

* Their pictures and project work displayed at their nation’s living area within the Athlete’s Village

*The right for one athlete and coach/teacher to visit their team in the Athlete’s Village on the morning of Saturday 29th March, immediately prior to the Welcome the World u11/u13 relays with CBBC’s Raven as guest of honour

* The right for one young athlete to carry the adopted country’s flag in the opening ceremony for the World Championships

*A grant of up to £250 towards the bus or coach costs of bringing members of the school or club to watch the World Championship races on course and free

*The chance to compete for a £500 prize for the best supporting team on course during the World Championships (flags, face paint, national dress encouraged)

 Team that have already been adopted – and by which school/club – are:

Algeria (Galloway Harriers)
Armenia (Tobermory High School)
Australia (St Mary’s Primary, Clydebank – pictured)
Azerbaijan (George Herriots)
Bahrain (Ayr Seaforth A.C.)
Belguim (Cluny Primary School)
Bolivia (Hermitage Park Primary)
Bosnia and Herzegovina (Mull Athletics Club)
Brazil (Mill O’ Forest Primary)
Bulgaria (Forres Academy)
Canada (Netherthird Primary)
China (Inverclyde A.C.)
Croatia (St Ninian’s Edinburgh)
Ecuador (Newton Primary School)
Eritrea (Eritrea Supporters Group)
Eritrea (Edinburgh A.C.)
Estonia (Newton Grange Primary)
Ethiopia (Motherwell A.C.)
France (Balmedie Junior Sportshall Group)
Germany (Greenock Glenpark Harriers)
Ghana (Cramond Primary)
Great Britain and N. Ireland (Kilmarnock Harriers)
Greece (Mosstowie Primary School)
Ireland (Dunblane Primary)
Italy (Stonehaven Junior Sportshall Athletics Group)
Japan (Braehead Primary)
Kenya (Gargieston Primary)
Kenya (Gourock Primary)
Liberia (Larkhall YMCA Harriers)
Malawi (Notre Dame High)
Mexico (Caithness AAC)
Morocco (Central A.C.)
Nauru (East Kilbride A.C.)
Netherlands (Ellon Junior Sportshall Group)
New Zealand (East Kilbride A.C.)
Norway (St Mary’s Primary, Edinburgh)
Poland (Garioch – Inverurie Junior Track & Field Group)
Portugal (Ellon A.C.)
Russia (Kirkby Stephen Grammar  School Sports College)
Rwanda (Dunbar Primary)
Seychelles (St Ninians Edinburgh)
South Africa (Newton Grange Primary)
Spain (Falkirk High School)
Sweden (Shettleston Harriers)
Tanzania (St. Kenneth’s Primary)
Uganda (Law and District)
USA (Gala Harriers)
Zimbabwe (Clydsdale Harriers)

The countries still waiting to be adopted are:
 
Botswana
Burundi
Chile
Congo
Denmark
Djibouti
Dominican Republic
Egypt
Guyana
Iraq
Israel
Ivory Coast
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kyrgyzstan
Lebanon
Lesotho
Libya
Nepal
Nigeria
Palestine
Peru
Qatar
Serbia
Sierra Leone
Sudan
Tajikistan
Turkey
Turkmenistan
UAE
Venezuela
Yemen