Six of the best world-class sporting events come to the city this year as part of Manchester World Sport 08.

The city will be buzzing with passion and adrenalin as the world's greatest athletes arrive in numbers, ready to test themselves against the best of the best in pursuit of some of the most prestigious prizes in their sports.

There will be something for all the family in the single biggest year of world sport in Manchester since the XVII Commonwealth Games in 2002 – including track cycling, swimming, paralympic events, football, running and squash.

The elite action starts in March with the UCI Track Cycling World Championships, followed in April by the 9th FINA World Swimming Championships 2008 (25m).  May will be a really busy sporting month with the Paralympic World Cup, the UEFA Cup Final 2008 and the BUPA Great Manchester Run. Then in October the city will be the venue for The Hi-Tec World Squash Championships Manchester 2008.

Manchester World Sport 08 builds on the city's reputation as a major world sporting city and a home for sports organisations, including British Cycling, England Squash, British Swimming's Water Polo Performance Centre, Sport Taekwondo and the Professional Footballers' Association.

Attracting sporting stars and their followers to the city will bring huge benefits, encouraging investment and generating revenue estimated to be around £16 million.

The events are being backed by both national and regional organisations, including Marketing Manchester, the official tourist board for Greater Manchester, Northwest Regional Development Agency and UK Sport.

Manchester World Sport 08 will also raise awareness of Manchester's outstanding sporting infrastructure and increase the involvement of community and youth groups across the city and the North-West.

Manchester residents and in particular the city's schools and community groups will be able to take part in a series of activities and competitions that will run alongside each event and will have the chance to use the numerous sports facilities at Sportcity.

Councillor Mike Kane, Manchester City Council's Executive Member for Arts and Leisure, said: "Securing these events follows the Council's huge investment in sporting facilities, its commitment to hosting major sports events and supporting community programmes.

"Manchester connects all its major events to the City's Sports Development and Community Sports programme, one of the most successful  in the country.

"This demonstrates commitment to delivering social benefit to residents as well as generating economic impact and to maximising opportunities for inclusion and participation."