GLASGOW is on track to host a record-breaking World Gymnastics Championships.
According to organisers, the 10-day international sporting event – which begins at the SSE Hydro today – is expected to generate at least £5 million for the Scottish economy.
It is estimated that at least 20,000 hotel bed-nights have been booked across the city.
A record 594 gymnasts from 87 countries are set to compete – the most high profile sporting event to be held in Scotland since the 2014 Commonwealth Games and Ryder Cup last year.
Colin Hartley, director of the 2015 World Gymnastics Championships, said: "We are expecting a fantastic economic impact as well as other social benefits including our schools programme."
Ticket sales have now passed the 51,000 mark with the women's individual all-around final on Thursday evening sold out.
This figure eclipses the 37,000 sold for the artistic gymnastics competition at the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
The 2009 World Gymnastics Championships at the O2 in London sold 39,000.
The individual apparatus finals which run over two days next weekend are also nearing capacity.
There are still some tickets available for the men's team and individual all-around events which take place on Wednesday and Friday next week.
Among those billed to be in action is the Great Britain men's team which includes Scotland's Commonwealth Games champion Daniel Purvis and Olympic silver medallist Louis Smith.
Seats also remain for the qualification sessions which run over four days from today.
Tickets for the event have been snapped up in more than 48 countries across the globe with spectators set to arrive from as far afield as Japan, Russia, USA and Tuvalu.
The 2015 World Gymnastics Championships will be broadcast in 67 countries worldwide.
The Commonwealth Games benefited the Glasgow economy to the tune of £390m and Scotland as a whole by £740m in the eight years since the bid to host the event was won.
The 2014 Ryder Cup brought an estimated economic boost of £100m to Scotland in the week of the tournament alone, while the 2014 MTV Europe Music Awards held at the SSE Hydro last November created a reported £10m windfall.
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