That’s one of the questions that will be put to councillors on Wednesday night when they discuss a proposal to bring some of the world’s best skateboarders here again in 2018.

The Australian Skateboard Racing Association (ASRA) has again applied to council to have access to Mount Panorama for a round of the International Downhill Federation World Cup from April 5-9 next year.

The fact it’s even up for discussion is quite remarkable. It’s hard to imagine any other regional centre in Australia thinking twice about playing host to an international event, but few other towns or cities boast anything like the list of high-profile annual attractions we have here already.

Apart from the Bathurst 1000 – the obvious jewel in the crown – Mount Panorama also hosts the annual 12-Hour and 6-Hour races. Then there’s the long-term deal with the Penrith Panthers to play an NRL match here each year, not to mention the annual Gold Crown carnival, one of the country’s premier harness racing events.

Add in one-off national titles for BMX racers and a host of representative carnivals, and the Bathurst calendar is starting to look pretty packed. But we must be able to make room for one more.

The skateboard crowd is definitely a different crowd and if council staff have been shown a lack of respect [as claimed in a report to Wednesday’s night meeting] then that must be addressed. But that is no reason to walk away from the opportunity to host another world-class event, and none of the other concerns listed in the council report appears insurmountable.

What’s needed is the will to host another big event and if council staff don’t have it, then councillors must.

If ASRA is as keen to return to Mount Panorama as it appears to be, then council is in the box seat to set strict conditions and expect them to be met.

At the same time, though, councillors should keep in mind a possible greater prize – the chance to host an Olympics event.

It’s not as silly as it sounds. Skateboarding is now an Olympic event and there must be a good chance the Olympics will return to our shores one day.

And if that were to happen then Mount Panorama – if it already hosted an annual World Cup event – would have to be first pick to host the Olympics skateboarding.

We just have to make it happen.