Glasgow gives all-clear for Youth Olympics bid

Published on 14/09/2012 00:50

GLASGOW’S bid to host the 2018 Youth Olympic Games was yesterday formally approved by the city council.

The Scottish Government gave its backing to the bid last week and plans will be submitted to the International Olympic Committee next week.

The council’s executive committee rubber-stamped the plans, and a budget of almost £235 million, the majority of which will be from government funding, has been set aside to host the event.

Sport minister Shona Robison said: “The Youth Olympic Games is one of the world’s biggest multi-sport events and will see young athletes from around the world compete in 28 different sports.

“Winning the Games will build on the sporting legacy from the 2014 Commonwealth Games, showcase Glasgow in over 200 countries and open up the city to new tourism and business opportunities, inspiring a new generation of Scottish sporting talent to be the best they can be.” The Glasgow bid is competing against Buenos Aires, Rotterdam and Poznan.

The winner will be announced next summer.

The regeneration of an area of the city is being brought forward as part of the bid.

Sighthill, in the north of city, will be home to the athletes’ village if the bid is successful, but building work will begin before any host city is chosen because of the timescale of the bid.