Glasgow and Scotland host the prestigious 2019 European Athletics Indoor Championships
EDINBURGH, Scotland, 2019-Feb-18 — /Travel PR News/ — Paul Bush OBE, VisitScotland Director of Events, looks ahead to next month’s European Athletics Indoor Championships as well as the other events coming up in 2019.
In two weeks’ time, Glasgow and Scotland will once again be in the global spotlight as the world-class Emirates Arena hosts the prestigious 2019 European Athletics Indoor Championships.
The Championships promise to be an incredible event for the athletes and spectators alike; whether watching from the arena or the comfort of home. With Olympic, World and European medallists competing, the three-day event is set to deliver show stopping performances. Meanwhile, this gives us an opportunity to show-off, and therefore strengthen Scotland’s reputation as a perfect stage for hosting and delivering world-class events.
Such high-profile events play an important role in our visitor economy. Event tourists, whether they are from within Scotland, the UK, or overseas, all generate business beyond the event itself; including for accommodation providers, shops, bars, restaurants, tourism attractions and transport providers.
With an expected 18,000 spectators, of which around 15% are overseas ticket buyers, more 600 athletes and 400 accompanying coaches and staff, from over 45 countries, signify clear economic gains for both Glasgow and Scotland.
Reflecting on past sporting events, The 2017 European Rugby Champions Cup and Challenge Cup, and last year’s Open Championship at Carnoustie; these respectively contributed £29.5 million and a staggering £120 million to the Scottish economy. These figures highlight the importance of events to our economy, and give us a glimpse into the opportunities that are possible for the future.
Yet, the impact of events isn’t solely economic. By generating a huge media profile for Scotland with invaluable broadcast opportunities; we’re also able to speak directly to audiences worldwide, inspiring them to come and experience Scotland for themselves.
Beyond The European Athletics Indoor Championships, there are other upcoming sporting events which will again provide valuable, golden opportunities for Scotland. Accompanying our annual portfolio of events, including our golf events programme and the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup, throughout 2019 we are delighted to welcome; World Wheelchair Curling Championships in Stirling, The 2019 Solheim Cup at Gleneagles, IFSC European Climbing Championships Lead and Speed in Edinburgh, as well as TISSOT UCI Track Cycling World Cup, GUINNESS PRO 14 Final and the LEN European Short Course Swimming Championships, which are all being held in Glasgow.
Scotland’s position as a world-leading host for major events was further re-affirmed last week when the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) announced that Scotland will host the inaugural UCI Cycling World Championships in 2023. Held in venues across Glasgow, and Scotland, over two weeks in August 2023, The Championships were awarded in recognition of our proven expertise in delivering world-class events. This will bring together thousands of the world’s best cyclists all vying to win the iconic rainbow jersey, in what will become the world’s biggest cycling event, broadcasting the event, and Scotland, to a global audience.
By working together to attract international sporting, cultural and business events to Scotland, we can shine a spotlight on this country’s growing reputation as the perfect stage for events. Our National Events Strategy, Scotland the Perfect Stage, outlines how we want to develop and attract future events to Scotland, deliver impacts and to raise Scotland’s international profile.
We look forward to welcoming these fantastic events to Scotland in 2019 and beyond, and our ambitions are set high as we continually work to develop and attract future events to Scotland, securing our position as a perfect stage for events – and to think bigger about Scotland’s potential.
Press Contact:
Chelsea Charles
Scotland’s Themed Years Communications & Engagement Manager
Contact for media enquiries on: Scotland’s Themed Years (i.e. 2018 Year of Young People; 2020 Year of Scotland’s Coast and Waters; 2022 Year of Scotland’s Stories)
Chelsea.Charles@Eventscotland.org
0131 472 2067
Source: VisitScotland
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