Image Credit: 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships

Harnessing the power of the bike

The inaugural 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships brought together 13 individual UCI World Championships to create the biggest single global cycling event in history. Designed as a purpose-led event it was a catalyst for change a cross three key outcome areas: economic impact, social contribution, and sustainability.

From 3 to 13 August 2023, it was a showcase of sporting excellence with over 7,000 elite and amateur athletes from 131 nations competing for 220 UCI World Championships titles.

It took place across 14 local authorities in Scotland. Event delivery partners included the UCI, Scottish Government, Glasgow Life, Glasgow City Council, UK Sport, British Cycling and VisitScotland.

Inclusion was at its core and saw the full integration of para-cycling road and track into the competition schedule, and the women elite road race closing the event.

 The Championship’s Sustainability Framework and its ten high-level commitments were mapped against the pillars of "People, Place and Planet" in alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs).

 An Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) framework was also developed with the pillars of ‘Attract, Engage and Inspire’ to welcome all to the Championships and encourage women and girls, and young people to take up cycling.

Read more: 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships Results (External Link)

£220 million

Total visitor spend in Scotland

£205 million

£344 million of incremental spend resulting in £205 million Gross Value Added (GVA) economic impact for Scotland

5,285

Full-time equivalent jobs supported in Scotland (direct, indirect and induced)

97%

of event attendees felt it was inclusive

93%

of spectators with a disability found the event to be accessible

40%

of spectators with a disability found the event to be accessible

79%

of Scottish attendees were inspired to cycle more

110

Activation events delivered by Scottish Cycling’s Ride the Worlds programme across Scotland (to 4,693 participants)

£1.5m

Awarded through the Community Cycling Fund to help support and deliver community cycling projects and events

86%

of stakeholders felt the Championships were delivered in an environmentally responsible way

61.1 ktCO2e

Total carbon footprint

45%

of fleet vehicles were EV or hybrid (35% of workforce vehicles were bikes)

The economic and social contribution as well as the sustainability impact was measured by data gathered through primary and secondary research.

The ESG assessment identified that the event contributed to 14 of 17 UN SDGs, demonstrating the wide range of activities undertaken and a commitment to a sustainable approach to event delivery.