By Richard Burdge

A TELEVISED sporting event which promoted Perthshire to an inter- national audience is to be staged again next year.

Following the success of the Gododdin: The Highland Challenge, Perth and Kinross Council are considering backing the event to the tune of £10,000.

A positive report on the economic impact of the event will be placed before members of the council’s enterprise and infrastructure committee tomorrow.

Last year the council provided £5000 support but the recommendation is that, in light of the success, this figure should be doubled.

“The event took place at Blair Castle and was incorporated into the programme for the annual Highland games,” says the report by head of economic development Ken Mac-Donald.

“The event fuses history and competitive action with a mix of Highland heavy events, gladiatorial challenges and traditional feats of strength, symbolising preparations for battle as in ancient times.”

An economic impact assessment of the event was carried out and some of the key results revealed were:

The event was attended by 4500 visitors.

Seventy-three percent were from outwith the Perth and Kinross area (including 11% from overseas).

Seventy percent of those from outwith the Perth and Kinross area stated that the event was their sole or main reason for visiting.

Forty-nine percent of visitors stayed overnight and 83% rated the Highland Challenge as good or very good.

The visitors to the Blair Atholl Gathering (including the Highland Challenge) generated a net expenditure of nearly £300,000.

“The Highland Challenge 2007 was filmed and broadcast by Channel 4, giving high profile not only to the event but to Blair Castle and Perthshire,” Mr MacDonald adds.

“The programme has been broadcast in the UK and is currently being distributed across Europe.

“The event is attractive to international audiences given the participation of some of the world’s leading heavy event athletes and the connection between the history of the area and the origins of the games.

“The objective of staging the event is to enhance the popularity of traditional Highland games by making them attractive to television audiences, establish a major annual event and promote Scottish history and scenery to a worldwide audience.

“It is proposed that a series of three events is held over two Perthshire sites in May and July 2008.

“Venues being approached at present by the organisers include Blair Castle and Scone Palace.

“The event budget is £125,000 and a grant of £15,000 has been requested from Perth and Kinross Council.

“Due to budget constraints, it is recommended that funding of up to £10,000 is awarded from the 2008 budget.”

The funding would be subject to confirmation of Channel 4’s involvement in the event and a commitment to broadcast the event.