Glasgow’s bid for the 2018 Youth Olympic Games was unanimously approved Thursday by Glasgow City Council at both the Executive Committee and full Council meetings.
Glasgow City Council reportedly is to spend one million pounds in the bid process and the Scottish Government has agreed to pay another one million pounds to finance half of the bid.
Glasgow 2018 organizers hope that the event could build on the momentum around the 2014 Commonwealth Games, highlighting Glasgow as a premier destination for tourism.
It’s expected that existing infrastructure such as Scotstoun Sports Campus, Tollcross International Swimming Centre, the Commonwealth Arena and the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome will be used, so no additional facilities will be required.
The planned national Hockey Centre at Glasgow Green, the Regional Football Centre at Toryglen, and the new Mountain Bike Centre at Cathkin Braes would also be used.
Paul Bush, bid director, said the event could help attract future business for the city, putting Glasgow on the map. He said, “Glasgow has invested close to 300 million pounds in sporting venues and infrastructure in recent years.
Councillor Gordon Matheson, leader of Glasgow City Council and a member of a special bid board said, “Glasgow is already known the world over as a great sporting city because of our proud track record of hosting international events and investing in world-class sports infrastructure.
“Hosting the 2018 Youth Olympic Games would be a new success story for our city and one that we are determined to capitalize on.
“Young people are at the very heart of our bid and will be our strongest voice as we go all out to bring the Youth Olympic Games to these shores for the first time”.
Matheson said, “the entire city has thrown its weight behind the bid to host the 2018 Youth Olympic Games in Glasgow. This is a great opportunity for us to build on what we will achieve at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games and underline what we have already achieved through our sporting and events programs”.
There are five other cities bidding for the Youth Games – Buenos Aries Argentina, Guadalajara Mexico, Medellin Colombia, Posnan Poland and Rotterdam Netherlands.
The technical bids for the 2018 Youth Games will be submitted in October 2012, with an International Olympic Committee (IOC) technical evaluation exercise leading to a short-listing in early 2013 and a final vote by the IOC in July, 2013.
