Should Glasgow host the 2018 Youth Olympic Games, an area of the city called Sighthill has been chosen as the preferred site for the Athlete’s Village.
The village would house about 6,000 athletes and officials during the Games and, according to the BBC, would be similar in size to the village currently being built in Dalmarnock where the 2014 Commonwealth Games are being held.
Glasgow City Council leader Gordon Matheson said, “the regeneration of the area was always a priority for the city but the bid means it can now happen much faster than ever envisaged”.
He added, “what’s great about this is that we need to start work on this regeneration before we know if we’ve won the bid. As a result Glasgow just bidding for the Games, people’s lives will be transformed. You’d struggle to find a bid anywhere in the world that delivers a legacy like that”.
Sport Minister Shona Robison said, “bidding for the Youth Olympic Games could not only bring another world class event to Glasgow, it is a huge opportunity to put in place new facilities and infrastructure”.
Glasgow’s 2014 budget is 230 million pounds – 70 per cent of which will be funded by the Scottish government and Glasgow City Council will be responsible for the remainder.
The 2018 Youth Games host city will be announced by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in July 2013, following a short-listing process next February.
