Following the Olympic flame passing through Edinburgh, the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) has come forward with yet another way that local residents can get involved with the Olympics. 

Edinburgh has been specially chosen by the Society to be one of the select number of walks on the "walk the world" website developed as part of the national cultural Olympiad.

The walk around Edinburgh explores the international tales of kidnap and murder, dramatic love stories and the deeds of kings, knights and spies as it follows the city's world famous Royal Mile. It looks at Edinburgh's development from an ancient castle town built on a volcano to a modern city built on international trade and prospered through its links to the wider world. Street names, buildings, monuments and people provide clues to these connections with Olympic nations which include New Zealand, Israel, Italy and South Africa.

Local residents can try out the walk by visiting www.walktheworld.org.uk for details, and the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) is calling on city residents to put forward suggestions of links they know of themselves.

RGS-IBG Director, Dr Rita Gardner, says: 

"Edinburgh has a wealth of international links in its geography and history and with Olympic fervour at its peak what better time to explore and discover the unexpected on your own doorstep.

"We hope that local residents will find this another exciting way that they can get involved with the Olympics and look forward to reading what suggestions they put forward for links in the region with other Olympic nations."

ENDS  

Notes to editors
 
1. The walk through Edinburgh - ‘A Wealth of Nations' - is a self-guided walk that starts at Edinburgh Castle and ends at the Scottish Parliament Building. It's just 1½ miles long and is suitable for all ages and abilities. It's free to download at  http://www.walktheworld.org.uk/walk/regions/scotland/edinburgh-royal-mile.html where you'll find a map and audio commentary to accompany you on your journey.

2. For further information and photos, please contact Alex Jackson, Media and Communications Officer on 020 7591 3019 or email press@rgs.org

3. Walk the World (www.walktheworld.org.uk) is part of the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad's Discovering Places campaign - inspiring people in the UK to discover their local built historic and natural environments. The project is delivered by the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) in partnership with Discovering Places and the Heritage Alliance. The project is funded principally by the National Lottery through the Olympic Lottery Distributor.

4. The Royal Geographical Society (with The Institute of British Geographers) is the learned society and professional body for geography - the subject that helps us understand people, places and environments. We would like everyone to have a better understanding of our complex and changing world. Formed in 1830, the Society exists to advance geography. Today, the Society does this by supporting and promoting geography in school, at university, in fieldwork and expeditions, and by enthusing and engaging public audiences through talks, discussions, exhibitions and online. The Society's large geographical collection of maps, images and manuscripts is also open to the public. www.rgs.org