Press release -
FIFA gets kick out of Orkney Ba'
It is a globally popular TV show usually associated with football superstars such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi but, in the latest episode of FIFA Futbol Mundial, millions of fans of the beautiful game will be treated to beautiful images of Orkney.
In a trip part-funded by VisitScotland, a film crew from football’s world governing body’s official TV programme, which is broadcast to millions of viewers in more than 60 countries, travelled to the Scottish island over the festive period to report on the famous New Year’s Day Ba’.
As well as the match itself, which saw more than 300 ‘Uppies’ and ‘Doonies’ compete for the coveted football title on the streets of Kirkwall, the FIFA Futbol Mundial crew also captured some of Orkney’s most picturesque locations.
The programme is being broadcast around the world this week, with people in the UK able to catch the Orkney segment on Channel 4’s Trans World Sport on Saturday 15 February.
Football fans will learn more about the Neolithic settlement of Skara Brae as well as the chapel built by Italian Prisoners of War. They will also be treated to a spectacular sunset at the RSPB nature reserve at Marwick Head.
Barbara Foulkes, VisitScotland’s Island Manager, based in Kirkwall, said: “Orkney boasts breathtaking scenery, an amazing history and a fantastic range of things to see and do. The Ba’ is an amazing spectacle, albeit quite different to the kind of football you’re likely to see at the Nou Camp or San Siro! We were delighted to welcome the FIFA film crew here and we can’t wait to see the finished result. I’m sure that football fans around the world will be captivated by the scenes of Orkney and will be encouraged to come here and explore the island for themselves.”
It is not the first time the Ba’, which is also played on Christmas Day and has been a fixture on the Orkney calendar since the mid-19th century, has come under the global spotlight.
In a 2012 episode of The Simpsons entitled The Daughter Also Rises, Groundskeeper Willie reveals to Bart that he hails from Orkney, adding that his mother was an Uppie and his mother a Doonie.
Tom Gulson, producer of FIFA Futbol Mundial, said: “We had a wonderful trip to Orkney and captured some truly amazing shots of the Ba’. The programme will show the island in all its splendour to a worldwide audience of millions and I would like to thank the people of Orkney for being so hospitable to our film crew. The island is truly stunning and full of character that captivated us throughout our trip. A big thank-you must go to VisitScotland and Logan Air for assisting the funding of this trip, as it wouldn’t have been possible without them.”
ENDS
For further information contact:
Tom Maxwell, Corporate Press Officer 0131 472 2409
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Notes to Editors:
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- VisitScotland is Scotland’s national tourism organisation. Its core purpose is to maximise the economic benefit of tourism to Scotland.
- The organisation has three key roles:
- To market Scotland to all parts of the world to attract visitors
- To provide information – and inspiration – to visitors and potential visitors so they get the best out of a visit to Scotland
- To provide quality assurance to visitors and quality advice to the industry and partners to help the industry meet and strive to exceed customer expectations
- VisitScotland works together with tourism businesses to make tourism a success for everyone and ensure the industry continues to grow.
- The organisation employs 700 people and has offices and VisitScotland Information Centres across Scotland.
- 2014 is the year Scotland welcomes the world, when it hosts the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, the Ryder Cup at Gleneagles and more than 800 Homecoming events throughout the country.For more information on Homecoming Scotland 2014, go to www.visitscotland.com
- The VisitScotland Information Centre network is a unique face-to-face channel engaging with around five million visitors and locals each year. Everyone who uses a VisitScotland Information Centre goes on to spend an additional £5.35, generating over £24 million for Scotland’s economy.
- According to a recent Deloitte study, tourism employs 270,000 people in Scotland in 20,000 diverse businesses. The same study calculates that the industry contributes £11 billion annually (direct and indirect impact, including day visits) and supports around 10 per cent of employment in Scotland. Almost 16 million tourists take overnight trips to Scotland.
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