£2.5m boost as area prepares to welcome orienteering athletes
A £2.5 million economic boost is expected when the World Orienteering Championships get under way this weekend, Highland Council believes.
The championship, which is taking place at the same time as the separate Scottish 6 Days orienteering competition, is expected to bring more than 5000 athletes to Inverness and Nairn from around the world.
Council convener Isobel McCallum said: "With a record number participants now registered for the event the potential economic benefit to the local area is expected to be over £2.5 million. As well as this economic boost for the Highlands, the orienteering events are raising public awareness and encouraging more participants and more new entrants to the sport.
"Everyone has been working very hard to ensure that Highland is ready to welcome people from across the globe to what will be a very memorable experience."
A dedicated campsite at Bught Park in Inverness will be home to many athletes and their families and friends during the events. An event centre will be located at Eden Court Theatre where outdoor medal ceremonies will take place on the 3rd, 6th and 7th August.
An opening ceremony on Nairn Links on Saturday 1st August is also expected to draw a large crowd.
Meanwhile, efforts to protect Glen Affric from invasive species during the championships have been praised by Forestry Commission Scotland.
Forests are under threat from a number of pests and diseases that can travel from one location to another in dirt on shoes, car and bike tyres and even animals’ paws or hooves.
And with the arrival of so many athletes from overseas, organisers have been using the event to urge all forest users to make sure they do not spread diseases or invasive species on their belongings.
"It is a landscape that needs to be protected and that is why we are grateful for the support of event organisers in helping us to promote biosecurity," said Jack Mackay, for Forest Enterprise Scotland in Inverness. "It is something that we will be promoting to all forest visitors but having the support of prestigious events like these is a great way to get our message out there."
He added that the global coverage of the world championships will help promote the glen to more visitors, and that he hopes the ‘Keep it Clean’ advice will encourage others to take steps to protect biodiversity.
