THE traditional school sports day has been given the sack by the forces of political correctness. Fresh from saving school football teams from humiliating defeats, council officials are banning competitive track events like the sack race and the egg and spoon race so that slower children don’t suffer the trauma of losing.

Local authorities in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee, North Lanarkshire, Fife, Aberdeen and Falkirk have introduced “potted” sports. These have no individual winners and losers. Pupils are awarded points for taking part rather than winning, so creating a more “inclusive” spirit. Activities include throwing balls and bean bags, negotiating obstacle courses and running relay races.

Edinburgh council has already introduced rules to allow losing football teams to field extra players. The regulations decree that if one team is more than five goals ahead at half-time, the score reverts to 0-0. Teams have also been banned from playing in league and cup competitions. Instead, they compete in an endless series of friendly matches.

Athletes said that the spread of non-competitive games was robbing Scots youngsters of the will to win. “For Scotland to be successful on the international sporting stage we have to encourage a winning culture,” said John Jeffrey, the former Scotland rugby international and coach of the national under-21 squad.

“These sorts of events are hindering individual performance. In sporting arenas around the world it has been evident that Scottish athletes haven’t had the mental hardness that comes with winning and losing. You only develop that if you’ve been beaten a couple of times.”

Yvonne Murray, the 3,000m Olympic bronze medallist, said that losing a sports day skipping rope race made her more determined to succeed. “I have vivid memories of that race. The rope got stuck between my legs and I landed face-first in the grass. I had this surge of adrenaline and was desperate to do it again. You learn more from losing than you ever do from winning.”

Doctors condemned politically correct events for contributing to childhood obesity rates in Scotland, which are among the highest in the world. They also warned that learning to lose is vital for psychological development.

“Sport allows children to play out many of the aspects of adult life,” said Des Spence, a GP in Glasgow, whose children’s school has introduced potted sports.

“Life is about highs and lows and to pretend that we are going to win all the time is ridiculous. Lots of kids are never going to achieve academically and this deprives them of the opportunity to excel at something.”

Brian Harris, Edinburgh city council’s principal officer for sports and outdoor education, defended the introduction of potted sports, now being used by most primary schools in the city.

“The reason is to involve all the pupils and not just those that are talented athletes.”

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