6. To ask the Scottish Government how much it spent on the UCI cycling world championships in Glasgow in 2023. (S6O-02931)

The total funding for the 2023 UCI cycling world championships is in the process of being finalised and will be confirmed in due course. It includes contributions from the Scottish Government, UK Sport, British Cycling, Glasgow City Council and a number of other local authorities, as well as from commercial revenue streams. Any additional funding that might be required will be managed centrally by the Scottish Government.

I welcomed the UCI cycling world championships being in Scotland. Dumfries and Galloway, which is a region that has already etched its name in the history of cycling as the birthplace of the pedal cycle bike in 1839, played host to the road competitions for paracyclists. South of Scotland Destination Alliance suggested that there might have been a £6 million boost to the local economy, but given the significant costs of hosting the event, including what we believe will be a significant overspend, what assessment has the Scottish Government made of the impact of that investment, and what work will it do with Dumfries and Galloway Council to ensure that it can deliver a long-term legacy?

The Scottish Government meets 2023 Cycling World Championships Ltd weekly to oversee the closing down of contracts and to achieve a final position on delivery costs. We expect a final position by the end of the financial year. We also expect event evaluation information—which goes to the heart of the question—on the economic benefit to Scotland, including the south of Scotland. That will be published in February.

I take this opportunity to record our thanks to the outgoing chief executive of the UCI world championships, Trudy Lindblade, and to wish her well as the new chief executive of Cricket Scotland.