Published: Thursday, 28th August, 2008 2:55pm

West Fife gears up for its own Olympics

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THE Olympic spotlight switches from Beijing to West Fife this weekend as the area"s own sporting extravaganza gets under way.

Hot on the heels of millions of us being glued to the exploits of Usain Bolt and the rest in the Far East, Dunfermline & West Fife"s Sport For All Festival starts this Saturday.

It begins with a bang as, for the first time, the festival will incorporate the Stewarts Scottish National Athletics Championships, which will be held at the Pitreavie Stadium this weekend.

And, as the likes of West Fife track talent Eilidh Child and Nick Smith go head to head against Scotland"s best, the Olympic flag will be unfurled above their heads in a historic moment for West Fife.

The iconic rings were raised above Fife House on Sunday as all 32 Scottish local authorities marked the handover of the Olympics from Beijing to London 2012.

Members of the Dunfermline & West Fife Sports Council, who run the Sport For All Festival, lobbied council chiefs to be able to fly it above Pitreavie at the start of the athletics championships.

And with the new £2m indoor sports facility at Pitreavie selected as a training venue for the world"s athletes coming to Britain in four years time for the Games, the West Fife venue was ideal for the flag to be unfurled.

Sports council chairman Councillor Douglas Chapman said, 'I hope that many athletes from all sports will see the Olympic flag flying at Pitreavie and that will give them an incentive to raise their game and aim to go higher, longer or faster in their chosen sport.'

And sports council secretary Noel Grimshaw told Press Sport, 'We are very honoured to have the Olympic flag.

"It"s an exciting occasion to have such a symbol as part of the general festival and we hope it will inspire the general public to sample one of the many sporting opportunities that are available in the programme.'

The eight-day festival, which runs until 7th September, features a packed programme of of courses, competitions, displays and "come and try" events in sports as diverse as hockey, swimming, tennis, golf, bowls, pool, water polo, volleyball, football, athletics, fencing and many more.

Events take place at community use schools as well as various leisure centres and facilities across West Fife from Rosyth and Pitreavie to Aberdour and Blairhall, with the emphasis on increasing public interest and participation in sport.

Put together by clubs in the area, there"s also events such as synchronised swimming, riding for the disabled, ju jitsu and shinty.

Early in the festival, top class Scottish athletes will battle it out on the Pitreavie track in the Stewarts Scottish National Athletics Championships (Saturday and Sunday 12-6pm).

It"s the first time the championships have come to Fife and as well as the cream of Scottish track & field, the championships will also feature European Championships double gold medal-winning athlete and current UK 400 metres record holder Iwan Thomas MBE, who has confirmed he will be racing.

The event was launched recently by Pitreavie"s Scottish 400m hurdles champion Eilidh Child, who was a bronze medallist in the Olympic trials.

She said, 'Not only will Scotland"s top athletes be battling it out, but with the competition open to the other home countries" senior and junior athletes, there will be real strength and depth.'

The River Forth Swim will now start at 2.54pm from South Queensferry pier and not 1.30pm as listed in the event programme. The change is due to tide and shipping movements. The finish is at North Queensferry with the first swimmer expected at 3.15pm.