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 projected to generate at least £5 million for the Scottish economy.

"We are expecting a fantastic economic impact as well as other social benefits including our schools programme," said Colin Hartley, director of the 2015 World Gymnastics Championships.

Mr Hartley said that figure included 15,000 hotel bed-nights during the event.

He added that number only applied to those who had booked through the official travel and accommodation partner with many other people choosing to make independent bookings.

It is estimated that at least 20,000 hotel bed-nights have been booked across the city.

"Early indications are strong and that in itself will draw us several million pounds of benefit," he said.

The championships will see a record 594 gymnasts from 87 countries compete – the most high profile sporting event to be held in Scotland since the 2014 Commonwealth Games and Ryder Cup last year.

Ticket sales have now passed the 51,000 mark with the women's individual all-around final on Thursday evening sold out.

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.

Ticket sales have eclipsed 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.

Fans from more than 48 countries across the globe have snapped up tickets 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 over 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.

Councillor Frank McAveety, leader of Glasgow City Council, said: "To have sold so many tickets at this stage for the World Championships, is a reflection of the growing popularity of gymnastics both at home and abroad and shows why Glasgow is rightly regarded as one of the world's top 10 sporting cities."