Glasgow to host European Cheerleading Championships
Glasgow is to host this year's European Cheerleading Championships.
Almost 3,000 competitors from 34 countries are expected at the city's new Emirates Arena on 29 and 30 June.
About 2,000 spectators are expected over the weekend and organisers believe the event could generate an additional £1.3m for the local economy.
This is the first time the competition has been held in the UK. The inaugural event in 2011 was held in Prague before travelling to Amsterdam last year.
The European Cheerleading Championships is organised by the European Cheer Union.
A range of titles are given out at the championships, including best group stunt and best dance group, in junior and senior categories.
The bid to bring the event to Glasgow was made by Scottish cheerleading body Scotcheer and Glasgow City Council's marketing bureau.
Council leader Gordon Matheson said: "The European Cheerleading Union's decision to bring their flagship event to Glasgow is a huge vote of confidence in the city and a real first for Scotland and the UK.
"We look forward to extending a warm welcome to the thousands of competitors and spectators who will come and soak up the colourful atmosphere of these championships, which will undoubtedly deliver a significant boost to the city's economy."
Steve Walls, president of Scotcheer, said: "We are delighted that our bid to bring the 2013 ECU European Cheerleading Championships to Glasgow has been successful and we're now aiming to deliver a show-stopping event, which will really set the benchmark for future championships.
"Over the past decade we have seen a meteoric rise in interest and participation in cheerleading right across Scotland and hosting this event in Glasgow will allow cheerleading clubs from every corner of the UK to compete against the very best in Europe."