A sporting chance of financial success

Published on Tuesday 15 March 2011 14:55

LIKE any large-scale spectacle, hosting a prestigious sporting event has an economic benefit well beyond the arena in which it takes place.

The 2007 Uefa Cup final held at Glasgow's Hampden Park brought in 16.3 million in local economic benefit, despite involving two Spanish teams.

In rugby, the 2009 Heineken Cup final, held at Murrayfield, saw Leicester Tigers take on Irish side Leinster, but still saw an overall financial return of 22m.

Last year's RBS Six Nations Championship saw Scotland benefit to the tune of 62.9m from the competition, though the team trailed behind every other nation but Italy, with England enjoying the greatest economic benefit of some 88.38m.

In the world of athletics, last year's ITU Duathlon World Championships, pictured, which took place in Edinburgh, had a net additional economic impact from competitors and spectators totalling more than 2.1m.

Looking ahead, with Glasgow set to host the Commonwealth Games in 2014, the economic benefit has been projected at potentially 81m for Scotland as a whole, and 30m for the host city.