Scotland to host World Fly-Fishing Championship

The World Fly-Fishing Championship will be hosted in Scotland for the first time in 2009, the Confederation of International Sport Fishing (CIPS) has announced.

Participants from more than 25 countries will be travelling to participate in the prestigious event, which Paul Bush, acting chief operator of Event Scotland described as a "coup" for the country.

He said the world championships would "help to promote the quality of Scottish fishing, consequently raising the profile of the country as a fishing destination to anglers across the world".

Taking place over seven days of competition, Dr Neil McCarry, international organiser of the Scottish Anglers National Association ,said that the championships would allow Scotland to showcase its "magnificent scenery" and to enjoy "anglers from all over the globe to enjoy the unique fishing experiences" offered at Scottish waterways.

Broadcast via cable TV, the championships will also showcase the fishing sites and surroung beauty of the Stirling and Perthshire countrysides.

The news may also bolster the Scottish economy significantly, with freshwater angling already believed to be worth £100 million to the Scottish economy each year.