A new generation of local sports stars is being sought starting in Perth this weekend.
A mass participation event hopes to uncover the next sporting heroes to follow in the footsteps of the likes of Andy Murray, Eve Muirhead and Eilidh Child.
The Showcase Sport Weekend on Saturday and Sunday will see clubs and leisure venues across Perth and Kinross inviting people of all ages to discover more about enjoying a wide range of activities, mostly free of charge.
The weekend has been organised by Perth and Kinross Council in partnership with sports clubs across the area to encourage people to get more involved in sports.
Councillor Bob Ellis, chairman of the Active Sports and Recreation Forum, said: “The Showcase Weekend will be a fantastic chance for people to find out what sport best suits them.
“Taking part in sport can be fun and personally rewarding, as well as good for your health, so I would encourage everyone to put the date in your diary.
“Don’t miss out on this great opportunity to try something that could make your life happier and healthier. Around 15 different sports clubs have already signed up to take part in the weekend, with time still for others to join in.
“Tennis, baton twirling and golf are just some of the sports that will be on offer to try. As a council, we want to showcase Perth and Kinross as a place where you can take part in a wide range of sports, whether it be traditional team games or adventure sports, such as white water rafting and bungee jumping.
“We are lucky here in Perth and Kinross to have a large number of clubs and organisations providing access to a variety of sports.”
The weekend comes ahead of an imminent announcement on the bid to have the National Performance Centre for Sports located on a parcel of land to the west of Perth.
Cities across the country, including Dundee and Stirling, are vying for the state-of-the-art training complex to be built within their boundaries. The centre would attract top athletes to the city and create jobs and prestige.
Mr Ellis said: “We also hope, of course, that Perth and Kinross will become a national hub for sport in Scotland.
“We have submitted a bid to be the location for the National Performance Centre for Sports, and we hope to hear very soon whether we have made it through to the second round of the selection process.
“Our plan would see a 30-hectare site at Ruthvenfield provide state-of-the-art facilities for football, athletes, basketball and other sports, including outdoor and indoor pitches, sports halls and fitness/well-being suites.
“Our ideal geographical location, along with the region’s strong sporting ethos, makes our bid a serious contender,” he went on.
“The Showcase Sports Weekend is a great way to show off that sporting ethos and I would encourage people to get out there and take part in a sport they’ve always wanted to try.”
People interested in taking part in the weekend can get more information at pkc.gov.uk/sportshowcaseweekend
Any sports clubs wishing to join in still has time to contact the council’s sports development service at pkcsport@pkc.gov.uk