Scottish economy receives £205 million boost from Glasgow World Championships

A new report published by the UCI has outlined the positive social and economic impact the 2023 World Championships had, with the event “generating over £205 million of economic activity for Scotland" in what David Lappartient has described as “an unprecedented success”.

Glasgow was the home to the first ‘super worlds’ between 3rd-13th August, which brought together 13 different disciplines, over 7000 athletes and 131 nations into what the UCI has described as “the biggest cycling event ever organised”.

While the 11 days delivered plenty of entertainment, the Championships were also a resounding success beyond the races, according to the socio-economic report conducted by professional services firm EY.

On top of the £205 million boost to the economy, the equivalent of 5,285 jobs were created, while the report also points to the event’s “contributions to a more sustainable society”. According to the report’s figures, 82% of visitors used active modes of transport and 79% of Scottish residents intend to cycle more. In addition, £6 million has been invested in local authorities to date and 93% of stakeholders intend to continue initiatives that started alongside the event.

The report also cites environmental initiatives, with 35% of participating nations planning to offset the carbon footprint of their travel, although the event was targeted by environment protesters from anti-oil group This Is Rigged who brought the men’s road race to a brief halt.

• Read more: Glasgow World Championships protesters walk free from court

"The 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships in Glasgow and across Scotland were an unprecedented success at every level,” UCI President David Lappartient reflected in the report. “As the EY report shows, this success extends beyond sport, to the economy, tourism and sustainable development. An event like the one we experienced in August 2023 leads to long-term benefits for the host communities and their residents.

“We are all the more pleased because, before it took place, this was the event's main objective: to delight those who love sport, but also to ensure that the power of the bike would enable the organisers of the UCI Cycling World Championships to achieve broader objectives related to development, wellbeing, and health.”

While the event was the first to bring all of the events together into one Championships, it won’t be the last with the UCI replicating the formula every four years. The next ‘super worlds’ will be held in Haute-Savoie, France, in 2027 with the disciplines separating out back to their individual World Championships in the intervening three years.

For the road, the 2024 World Championships will be held in Zürich, Switzerland, where Mathieu van der Poel and Lotte Kopecky will attempt to defend the elite road crowns they won on the roads of Glasgow, while Remco Evenepoel and Chloé Dygert hold the time trial titles.