Glasgow on Youth Olympics shortlist

Feb 13 2013

Glasgow is one of three cities that could host the 2018 Youth Olympics, International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Jacques Rogge has announced.

Buenos Aires in Argentina and Medellin in Colombia are its rivals.

Guadalajara in Mexico and Rotterdam, Netherlands, did not make the final shortlist.

Up to 3,600 athletes, aged 15-18, are set to take part in 28 Olympic sports at the 12-day 2018 Games.

The Scottish bid to host the third Youth Olympics drew warm congratulations from Lord Smith, chairman of the Glasgow 2014 committee for the Commonwealth Games.

He said: "Scotland has a growing reputation for staging successful world-class events and securing the 2018 Youth Olympic Games would be a fantastic opportunity to build on the experience and skills developed through delivering an outstanding Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in 2014.

"Hosting another global sporting event in the city will continue to develop real legacy and impact from Glasgow 2014, as well as demonstrating the warmth and enthusiasm the city and Scotland hold for athletes and spectators."

As with the senior elite competition, the Youth Olympics are held once every four years. Singapore staged the first competition in 2010 and the next is in Nanjing, China, in 2014.

The final three bid cities face further questioning and assessment from the IOC about why and how they propose to stage the Games.

IOC members will elect the host city in July.