Project is seen as way to encourage support and interest new generation

The murals project has been in the planning pipeline for most of the year.

The idea was first discussed within Scottish Athletics after the Glasgow 2019 European Indoor Championships when Eilidh was in the GB relay team.

Chief executive Mark Munro said: “We are delighted that the planning application has been granted approval and would like to thank Live Active Leisure and Perth and Kinross Council for all their assistance with the project.

“It is hard to put a timescale on these things, but we’re working with a prospective artist and we’d love to see the mural complete very soon indeed.”

He said: “We were really keen to do the Eilidh mural in Perth because we’re trying to raise the profile of the sport and of our top athletes in the lead-up and during the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

“Dramatic street art of athletes in their home towns and cities is a project we’ve been working away on for some time in 2019 but, as things stand at the moment, the Perth application is just ahead of a couple of others.”

Mr Munro said the aim was to encourage children and adults to support the athletes and realise that athletics and exercise is open to all.

“We think street images of top athletes can really help build on a growing profile for athletes in Scotland. We have some terrific athletes at the moment and want to try to maximise the success of the likes of Eilidh, Laura Muir, Eilish McColgan and Callum Hawkins,” he said.

Picture: PA. Callum Hawkins.