Sport legends win fame

Jackie Stewart was "absolutely outstanding"

The identities of the first 50 sportsmen and women to be included in a new Scottish "hall of fame" are about to be unveiled.

Their names will be revealed on Saturday when the hall officially opens at Edinburgh's Royal Museum.

First Minister Jack McConnell will launch the event, which has been organised by the Royal Museum and sportscotland.

Alastair Dempster, sportscotland chairman, said the organisers hoped to inspire young people in Scotland to emulate their sporting heroes.

We have to develop a culture of winning and actually celebrating success

Alastair Dempster
sportscotland

Dr Gordon Rintoul, director of the National Museums of Scotland, said it was a tribute to outstanding sporting achievement.

The project was launched a year ago to mark 200 years of Scottish sporting heritage.

A list of 100 possibles was whittled down to 50 by an independent selection panel.

Mr Dempster said he was confident sporting enthusiasts would enjoy casting their eyes down the list.

'Tremendous role model'

"I think you will be astounded by some of the people who will emerge tomorrow (Saturday) as the first 50 inductees - it will be a lot for Scotland to be proud of," he predicted.

Mr Dempster said his own favourite would be Formula One champion Jackie Stewart, who is a patron of the hall of fame, alongside The Princess Royal.

He said: "He (Stewart) is a tremendous role model, not just for what he achieved in sport, but all that he has achieved after sport is absolutely outstanding.

The Princess Royal: Hall patron

"We have to develop a culture of winning and actually celebrating success and I think it's another stepping stone to achieving that."

Sir Jackie Stewart said: "I believe that the Scottish Sports Hall of Fame will provide us all with a lasting tribute to past stories of success and for those great sporting moments that await us in the future."

The Princess Royal will launch a £300,000 fundraising campaign on 5 December to create a permanent gallery.

BBC One Scotland will televise The Famous 50, on Saturday 30 November at 2225 GMT.