Glasgow's Bid to host the Youth Olympic Games

Media Release

Glasgow’s Bid to host the 2018 Youth Olympic Games (YOG) will reach out to young people across the world.

That is the message from three of Team GB’s medal winning stars at the London 2012 Olympic Games, who were today (Thursday) unveiled as Champions for Glasgow’s Bid to host the 2018 YOG.

Britain’s most successful female rower Katherine Grainger CBE, who last summer added gold to her three previous Olympic silver medals, Michael Jamieson, silver medallist in swimming, and Jade Jones, who won Team GB’s first ever tae kwon do Olympic gold medal, join a growing list of high-profile supporters of the Glasgow 2018 YOG Bid.

Glasgow’s Bid has young people at its very heart and seeks to capitalise on the opportunities created by the London 2012 and the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games as well as the city’s world-class sporting events programme. These opportunities are what the Champions believe put the city in a unique position to host the Games.

Katherine Grainger CBE, who has won six World Championship titles as well as an Olympic gold medal, said: “Glasgow has an outstanding track record of hosting major sporting events. Over the years the city has shown it has what it takes to put on a show and this is exactly what it aims to do in 2018. Glasgow 2018 will inspire young people to be champions in their lives. We want to reach out to young people across the world and make 2018 a year to remember for young people.”

Michael Jamieson, who is a former pupil at the Glasgow School of Sport, said: “Having grown up in Glasgow I am passionate about this Bid and the commitment in Glasgow to developing sport at all levels. Glasgow is a vibrant, energetic and passionate city and one that the young people of the world would respond to in 2018.”

Jade Jones, who won gold at the 2010 YOG in Singapore, said: “Youth Olympic Games hold a special place in my heart. Singapore was the start of an incredible Olympic journey for me and I would love to see the Youth Olympic Games come to Glasgow in 2018. London 2012 showed just how passionate the British public is when it comes to sport and that is what young people can expect in Glasgow. I know that Glasgow will be the beginning of a great Olympic career for so many young athletes.”

The Glasgow 2018 ‘Be a Champion in your Life’ campaign has already won the support of the Prime Minister David Cameron and Olympians including Dame Kelly Holmes, Beth Tweddle and Kristian Thomas.

Glasgow 2018 Bid Director Paul Bush said: “The biggest strength of our Bid to bring the 2018 Youth Olympic Games to Glasgow is our young people. They are at the very heart of everything we do and will ensure that we reach out across the world. Our Bid is not just about Glasgow, Scotland and the UK – it is about bringing together young people from all over the world for a truly world-class celebration of sport.”

For more information contact:

Michelle McGinty, Glasgow 2018, michelle.mcginty@glasgow2018.com 030 2014 0903

John Egan, Glasgow 2018, john.egan@glasgow.gov.uk 07584217858

Notes to editors:

Background

The Youth Olympic Games (YOG) is an international sporting event for the best young athletes in the world that aims to inspire young people to participate in sport and adopt and live by the Olympic values. Young athletes (15-18 years of age) compete in all 28 Olympic sports over 12 days of world-class competition.

While sport is at the very heart of the Games, the Culture and Education Programme also plays a central role. Elite athletes remain at the Games for the entire competition in order that they can take part in a wide range of activities alongside their sporting programme.

Glasgow became the UK’s Candidate City for the 2018 YOG in February 2012. The first summer YOG was held in Singapore in 2010. It broadcast to 160 territories with an estimated audience of more than 247m. The event attracted seven million viewers to the IOC YouTube channel (the 3^rd most watched in the world). Organisers also recruited 20,000 volunteers.

The Great Britain team won 13 medals in Singapore (5 gold, 2 silver and 6 bronze). Tom Daley and Taekwondo gold medallist Jade Jones, both took part.

The Games follow the traditional four year cycle with the next summer event being held in Nanjing, China, in 2014. The first winter YOG was held this year in Innsbruck, Austria, and the next will be in 2016 in Lillehammer, Norway.

Ways to back the Bid

Glasgow 2018 web address: www.Glasgow2018.com

Like us on Facebook on www.facebook.com/Glasgow2018.com. Download your exclusive Glasgow 2018 twibbon.

Timeline

Milestone	Timing
The IOC Executive Board will announce a shortlist of candidate cities based on the strength of Candidature Files and responses from IOC and experts between October and December.	13 February 2013
Video conferences between Bid Committees and the IOC Evaluation Commission in lieu of formal presentations. This will be the final opportunity to present the case and respond to questions.	February – March 2013
IOC Evaluation Commission to report on candidate cities.	May 2013
Recommendation by the IOC Executive Board of finalist YOG Candidate Cities to be submitted to the IOC for selection.	23-25 May 2013
Election of the Host City of the 3^rd Summer Youth Olympic Games in 2018.	3-4 July 2013

Sports

There are 26 summer sports in the London Olympic programme, however Golf and Rugby have now been included for future Olympic Games including the Rio 2016 Olympic Games and the Nanjing Youth Games in 2014.

Therefore the bid will be put together on the basis of the 28 sports below, with any future changes or additions to sports being incorporated into the programme as appropriate.

Although the Youth Olympic Games have the same sports as The Olympics, it has a reduced number of events per sport and has the ability to introduce exciting new formats, for example ‘three on three’ basketball, mixed National Olympic Committee events and mixed gender team events.

Aquatics	Football	Sailing
Archery	Golf	Shooting
Athletics	Gymnastics	Table Tennis
Badminton	Handball	Tae Kwon Do
Basketball	Hockey	Tennis
Boxing	Judo	Triathlon
Canoe	Modern Pentathlon	Volleyball
Cycling	Rowing	Weightlifting
Equestrian	Rugby	Wrestling
Fencing

Why Glasgow?

Glasgow 2018 is the next step on the UK’s Olympic journey – a historic opportunity for a guaranteed Games legacy

Glasgow 2018 will continue to fulfil the promise made by Seb Coe in July 2005 to ‘bring sport to the children of the world’.
Glasgow 2018 would amplify and accelerate the legacy of the Commonwealth Games and London 2012, with a long-term social and economic impact for the IOC.
Glasgow 2018 could draw on an unrivalled pool of expertise and sophistication thanks to the UK’s Olympic experience.

Glasgow 2018 is a strong partnership between all levels of Government which is committed to putting the talents, needs and aspirations of young people at the heart of the Youth Olympic Games

Glasgow, Scotland and the UK aspire for excellence for all young people. The Youth Olympic Games are the next step in the journey.
Glasgow 2018 would empower young people globally to believe they can be champions in their own lives.
Glasgow 2018 will spread the spirit of Olympism to the next generation in a multicultural, cosmopolitan city.

Glasgow, Scotland and the UK are ready to surprise the Olympic family

The Youth Olympic Games will celebrate Glasgow and Scotland’s rich history and cultural scene.
Glasgow is a sports city in a sports nation, with outstanding participation, passion and provision for sport at all levels
The Olympic family will experience the warmth, friendliness and inclusiveness of Scottish hospitality.