IOC Highlights Glasgow 2018's Plans for an "Innovative", "Vibrant" and "Safe" Youth Olympic Games

The International Olympic Committee’s Youth Olympic Games (YOG) Evaluation Commission today issued a positive report on Glasgow’s plans to host the 2018 YOG and highlighted key elements of the city’s vision to deliver an event with lasting global impact for young people across the world.

In the 2018 Evaluation Commission’s Report on the three cities bidding to host the 3rd YOG it highlighted:

• Glasgow’s "compact project which makes good use of existing venues" and the fact work has already started on the Youth Olympic Village to create a "vibrant new community"

• The city’s ability to deliver "innovative" and "classic cultural events" appealing to "all athletes and young people across the globe" as part of the Culture and Education Programme

• The "overall" safety of Glasgow as a place to visit with "Scotland and the UK having experience in providing security for major sporting events"

• The fact a Glasgow 2018 YOG would present "minimal risk" to the IOC.

The IOC will vote to elect the Host City for the 2018 YOG on 4th July in Lausanne, Switzerland. Teams from Glasgow, Medellin in Columbia and Buenos Aires in Argentina will all present to the membership of the IOC before the vote takes place.

Glasgow 2018’s vision is founded on Scotland and the UK’s unrivalled track record as strong, stable partners for delivering world-class multi-sports events, and a city with a global reputation as a sporting and cultural powerhouse with young people at its heart.

The Bid Team has pledged that the Glasgow 2018 YOG, in partnership with the IOC, will enable the Olympic Movement to deepen its relationship with young people around the world to achieve lasting impact.

Scottish Government Minister for Sport and Commonwealth Games, Shona Robison, said: "We welcome the IOC Evaluation Commission’s report. The IOC’s experts have acknowledged our great facilities, long experience of hosting major events and the fact we have virtually no venues to build in order to put on a great YOG in line with the IOC’s original philosophy for the Games.

"That means we are ideally placed to focus additional time and effort on athletes’ needs, should we have the honour of hosting the Games. All our efforts are now focused on securing the Games so that we can provide visitors and athletes with the friendly welcome for which Scotland is renowned and provide an experience that will both surprise and delight."

Councillor Gordon Matheson, Leader of Glasgow City Council, said: "We are delighted that the IOC have shown such confidence in our ability to deliver a YOG which presents minimal risk to them and which will be an event that can empower young people both here at home and across the globe.

"We are grateful for the help and support the IOC have given us and look forward now to working towards the final presentation to show how we can work in partnership with the Olympic Movement to deliver an innovative, visionary YOG which will have a lasting impact on young people everywhere.

"I am also delighted to see that they have acknowledged that we have already started work on our Youth Olympic Village which, as they highlight, will create a vibrant new community in Sighthill."

Seb Coe, Chairman of the British Olympic Association (BOA), said: "I would like to thank the Evaluation Commission for their guidance and support as we look forward to further showing that Glasgow 2018 can, in partnership with the IOC, deliver a creative, innovative and global YOG.

"Glasgow seeks to align its vision for the YOG with the original concept created by the IOC in order to be a partner that can help it grow and flourish across the globe."

Paul Bush, Glasgow 2018 Bid Director, said: "It is very welcome to see that the IOC have praised Glasgow’s determination to use its world-class venues, which are ready and waiting for 2018, in a way that suits the YOG and the best young athletes in the world.

"This Bid has the full and active support of all levels of government who are committed as active partners to delivering a successful and low-risk Games which capitalises on their expertise in delivering sophisticated programmes for the benefit of young people and the wider community."

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

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