For the second time in two years the 164th Famous Alva Games will not go ahead.
The 2021 event, like last year’s, has been cancelled due to coronavirus.
The Famous Alva Games committee met by Zoom on Sunday and decided it was not feasible for the Saturday July 10 event to take place.
Games secretary Craig Dunbar said this week: “With just over three months to go, this is the crucial time for committing to the organisation of the event and commitment to various items of expenditure, which would be lost in the event of a subsequent cancellation.
“As presently advised, there was no certainty as to our ability to hold the Games at all, or certainly not in a format which any of us would recognise.
“By July, it is hoped that the adult population will have had one dose of the vaccine but by no means two.
“No one yet knows what decision is to be taken about children.
“As an event which caters for families of all ages from infants to the more mature, we had to consider their and our safety and well-being and we simply could not be assured that we could discharge our obligations under the presently known regime.”
Mr Dunbar also pointed out that the policing of social distancing would have been a major undertaking in an open public park. And with international travel likely subject to restrictions the committee could not be certain that the amount of people attending the games would make it financially viable.
He added: “We could not in all conscience expect those sponsors, patrons and spectators who were able in these difficult times to continue with their support to see a much reduced event, and we would not wish to put it on if our usual thousands of supporters were not able to take part in the traditional celebrations.
“We considered running a restricted event but it was felt that this would not do justice to the reputation of the Games and would be unfair to those who would necessarily be excluded from such an occasion.
“As with so many other events which have already called time on their 2021 gathering, the committee resolved to regroup and devote their attention to the re-arranged fixture on July 9, 2022, when we hope that a bigger, better and brighter Games can be held.
“This was not the decision which the Committee wanted to take, but it is hoped sincerely that it is one which has been taken for the last time as a result of this health emergency.”
