The Highlands is bidding to host for the 2015 World Orienteering Championships. The last championships to be held in Scotland were hosted in the Inverness area, when 350 competitors took part, and it is hoped that a successful Highland bit could channel millions into the local economy.
Highland Council has been asked to give £30,000 towards the bid and a report by council officials said it had been estimated could generate more than £2m for the local economy. The most recent, large-scale, international orienteering event held in Scotland was the Scottish Six Days Event, held near Perth, which attracted 3,900 entrants and 416 spectators. An independent assessment of the event suggested it led to £1.9m being spent locally in Perthshire.
Before 2015, the world championships will be hosted by France, Switzerland, Finland and Italy.
Also in the long term Scottish sporting calendar is a bid to host part of the 2017 Tour de France. Event Scotland is hoping to bring the first part of the race, the Grand Depart time trial, to Glasgow or Edinburgh.