IOC: Buenos Aires, Glasgow, Medellin All "Minimal Risk"

(ATR) IOC members will vote among three "minimal risk" bids for the 2018 Youth Olympic Games.

That's the verdict of the IOC Evaluation Commission chaired by Germany’s Claudia Bokel.

Tuesday’s report from the six-strong panel follows February’s critique of the candidature files by an IOC Working Group as well as video conferences with the three cities conducted in April.

The document arrives with a month to go until the host decision, scheduled for July 4 in Lausanne on the sidelines of the IOC Technical Briefing for the 2020 Olympics.

According to the Evaluation Commission:

Buenos Aires (22 of 26 proposed venues already exist), Glasgow (21 of 27) and Medellin (20 of 24) all promise "good use of existing venues". Glasgow (80 percent of competition venues within 23km and 20 minutes of Youth Olympic Village) and Medellin (87 percent within 9km and 17 minutes) propose "compact" YOG. "Reasonably compact" is how the IOC describes Buenos Aires (96 percent within 35km and 30 minutes). All three pose some problems with their Culture and Education Programs as planned. The guarantees of Glasgow and Medellin are "generally clear and of good quality". Those of Buenos Aires are "generally solid". Glasgow is "safe" and Buenos Aires "relatively safe" for visitors. "In Medellin, crime is still a problem," says the IOC. "However, the city has made admirable progress to regenerate its urban area and recent actions by the city authorities and the introduction of innovative ideas on street safety have significantly improved the standards of safety in the city itself and tourism is reported to be increasing." Glasgow, which will welcome the 2014 Commonwealth Games, and Medellin, which staged the 2010 South American Games, are cited for their "good experience in hosting international and multi-sport events." The budgets of Glasgow ($357.8 million YOGOC, $82.8 million non-YOGOC) and Medellin ($170.573 million YOGOC, $1 billion non-YOGOC) are deemed "consistent with levels of service described" in their bid books with "most key costs taken into consideration". The same commentary is applied to Buenos Aires ($104.69 million YOGOC, $126.4 million non-YOGOC) with one addition. Its budget is cited for "lacking Games operations understanding," according to the IOC. "Some concern still remains with regards to the funding and related guarantees underpinning the bid," reads the report. "In terms of the understanding of the YOG concept, the Commission felt that further efforts would need to be made, should Buenos Aires be elected as host city."In separate statements welcoming Tuesday’s report, the three bid cities had the following to say:

Buenos Aires 2018 CEO Francisco Irarrazaval: "The IOC Evaluation Commission report will be a valuable source of information as we work hard to make our proposal even stronger. We are confident that Buenos Aires would deliver an unforgettable YOG that inspires the Olympians of the future to take part in sport today." Glasgow 2018 CEO Paul Bush: "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." Medellin 2018 CEO Juan Camilo Quintero: "The report shows that we were eager to listen and learn and to be a good partner for the IOC. They have recognized the investment over the last decade in youth, education, sport and culture – the very same priorities as the Youth Olympic Games, and the full support from the highest level of government."Written by Matthew Grayson.

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