Current status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 26 February 2026
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on social impact activity connected to Scotland hosting the 2027 Tour de France Grand Départ.
Bringing the 2027 Tour de France Grand Départ to Edinburgh is a once in a generation opportunity. We are delighted that Scotland is co-hosting the biggest free spectator event in the world alongside our partners in England and Wales. We have the honour of hosting the opening stage, which will start in Edinburgh on Friday 2 July 2027, before heading south through Midlothian, the Scottish Borders and Dumfries and Galloway, finishing in Carlisle.
At the heart of the 2027 Grand Départ is Joy, a social impact programme that aims to tackle inactivity and improve mental wellbeing, support communities to thrive, and to make us more productive and prosperous.
With that long-term impact in mind, the Scottish Government has chosen to allocate £1 million of its overall £9.25 million of investment in the event to boost the social impact programme in Scotland. Scottish Cycling, Scotland’s national governing body for the sport of cycling, has been appointed to lead the delivery of the social impact programme in Scotland. Scottish Cycling will work closely with the Scottish Government, local authorities, national agencies, community-based organisations and national cycling partners to co-design and deliver activity that delivers lasting change across Scotland.