Hosting a world-class sporting event is already an expensive endeavor, and a committee has recommended the city spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to inspect Hawrelak Park Lake ahead of a possible bid.

Edmonton has hosted a number of triathlon events since 1999, and officials said the sport has grown immensely in the city since then.

Recently, the city was invited to bid on the International Triathlon Union Grand Final in 2014; it’s an event that could see thousands of athletes compete.

“As well as the age groupers, we will have the juniors, junior men and women, U 23 men, U 23 women, power triathlon and the elite athletes,” Sheila O’Kelly with the Edmonton Triathlon Academy said. “So we’re looking at 5000 plus total competitors.”

However, before the bid is submitted the city said some improvements are needed.

The lake at Hawrelak Park doesn’t meet international standards.

According to a report, the manmade lake is too shallow, the length isn’t suitable, the water quality doesn’t meet health standards, and the supporting infrastructure is aging.

“The liner of the lake is 40 years old,” Rob Smyth, with the Community and Recreation Facility Branch said. “It’s going to have to be looked at, we have some early indications that the liner is leaking.”

The report also cites a buildup of sediment as being a problem for swimmers.

In all, the committee has recommended the city spend $100,000 to analyze the best ways to fix the problems.

Meanwhile, those involved in the international level of the sport said the economic spinoff from such an event would be tremendous.

“We’re guesstimating the $4 to $8 million range,” O’Kelly said. “But it could be more than that, because we have to factor in the television, there’s live television, [up to] 21 million viewers.”

It’s estimated the event itself could cost about $5 million, if the city bids, and if that’s successful, $2 million would come from the city, and the rest would be covered by grants from the provincial and federal governments, along with sponsorships.

City Council is set to vote on this report next week.

With files from Veronica Jubinville