Calling all Highlanders! Almost as old the Olympic Games, the Highland Games have been around about as long as the Scottish! Considered some of the real 'strongmen' of the world, the Highland games include strength-driven events like shotputting and hammer throwing. Get ready for the annual Scottish Festival and Highland Games set to get underway in Arlington June 6-8, 2008. This cultural event is recognized worldwide and offers the perfect opportunity to do a little dancing, learn a few Scottish crafts, hear authentic Scottish/Celtic entertainers, and witness a most unusual form of stron man games that will take your breath away. The Texas Scottish Festival and Highland Games will be the site of the 2008 World Highland Games. This annual event for professionals, is sanctioned by the International Highland Games Federation, and includes participating athletes from Scotland, Canada and the United States. Only the best athletes in the World are invited by the IHGF to compete in such sanctioned events. It is the aim of IHGF Highland Games to promote world class events and Championships with the best athletes internationally, and to continue the tradition of highland games as it has been done over the many years. The games have now become a major attraction in countries around the World for tourists and locals alike during the hot summer months held in some of the most beautiful settings, castle grounds, lochs, hills and glens amidst dramatic scenery making an optimum stage for the day’s series of traditional competitions and Strength events. This is our heritage and we are proud to be associated with it. All the events originated in Scotland, piping, Highland dancing, shot putting, weight throwing, hammer throwing and caber tossing. In fact two of these events, the shot putt and hammer throw, were borrowed from the Scottish Games to become an integral part of Modern Olympics re-established in Athens in 1896. The Highland games Heavy Athlete and Worlds Strongest men are a rare breed indeed. He must possess a high level of strength, power, speed, agility, mobility and technical skills in eight events or more to be successful in his sport. Then he has to compete all day in climatic conditions ranging from the searing heat over 100F, to temperatures just above freezing in torrential rain, this must surely be one of the most grueling forms of athletic activity. To learn more about the Scottish Festival and Highland Games, visit the official Web site.