Glasgow reveals bid plans for 2018 Youth Olympic Games

Details have been released of Glasgow's plans to host the 2018 Youth Olympics.

The bid document, which has been submitted to the International Olympic Committee (IOC), proposes holding athletics events at Scotstoun Stadium.

Diving and swimming would be staged at Tollcross International Aquatics Centre with a purpose-built Athletes' Village at Sighthill, in the north of the city.

The IOC will announce the host city in July 2013, following a shortlisting process in February next year.

Glasgow's bid builds on its status as host city for the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

'Excellent reputation'

Details of the bid were announced at the Tollcross venue on Monday, in an event attended by Sport Minister Shona Robison and young athletes from the City of Glasgow Swim Team.

Ms Robison said: "Warmth and hospitality alongside an excellent reputation for hosting world-class sport events makes Glasgow, and Scotland, the perfect stage for the Youth Olympic Games in 2018.

"Young athletes competing at the top of their field rightly expect the very best facilities and support services.

Glasgow plans to build an Athletes' Village in Sighthill

"Building on the legacy of the London 2012 Olympics and the forthcoming 2014 Commonwealth Games, Scotland stands ready to be an exciting, dynamic host of the Youth Olympic Games."

It was revealed that a total of 15 out of 17 sites proposed for use in the 2018 bid will be completed before the end of 2013.

The vast majority of these venues are no more than 20 minutes travel from the Youth Olympic Village in Sighthill.

Glasgow's bid is being supported by Lord (Sebastian) Coe, chairman of the British Olympic Association and the London 2012 Organising Committee.

He said: "The Youth Olympic Games is a fresh, exciting, young product.

"By entrusting it to Glasgow 2018, the Olympic family will have a historic opportunity to draw on the unprecedented pool of sophisticated event-hosting expertise and global youth engagement programmes in the UK right now.

"We delivered our promises and we achieved our goals at London 2012, and we're ready to continue that partnership with the Olympic family in Glasgow in 2018, another sports city in our sporting nation."

'Healthier lifestyles'

In the last five years, the UK has hosted more than 120 world and European status events, and Glasgow is now ranked ninth in the SportBusiness Ultimate Sports City table.

Glasgow City Council leader Gordon Matheson said considerable investment in sports facilities could have a massive impact on young people and local communities.

"We have invested in the sporting and cultural infrastructure over recent years in order to be capable of hosting world-class events," he said.

"These not only put Glasgow on the world map but create jobs and opportunities for Glaswegians, and crucially encourage our young people to lead healthier and more active lifestyles."

Glasgow's 2018's bid team comprises the Scottish Government, Glasgow City Council and the British Olympic Association.