It could see some of world's best in the sport heading to the Island
Could the Isle of Man welcome some of the best race walkers from around the globe to Manx shores next month?
The 2024 Isle of Man 20km Walking Championships - taking place this year on Sunday, 8 September - has been granted world athletics ranking status.
This means there will be ranking points up for grabs during the 20km race which count towards the totals for athletes ranging from elite to club level.
Along with the 20km main event there will also be a series of supporting events over shorter distances for different age groups.
Local athletics correspondent Dave Griffiths says this new status for the championship could raise the profile of race walking locally, a scene which he believes in recent years has 'dwindled.':
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