Year of Young People in 2018 to boost impact of Games

1st July 2013

The year 2018 will be the Year of Young People, if Glasgow makes a successful bid to host the Youth Olympic Games, it has been announced.

With the Youth Olympic Games at the centre of the year, the Year of Young People will be a year long celebration of youth culture and sport across Scotland, which will be promoted across the world.

The Year will build on the successes of previous themed focus years that have highlighted some of Scotland�s greatest assets at home and internationally, such as the Year of Creative Scotland and the Year of Natural Scotland.

Minister for Commonwealth Games and Sport Shona Robison is travelling to Lausanne for the final International Olympic committee (IOC) vote on Thursday, July 4.

Glasgow is the running to host the third Youth Olympic Games in 2018. Other cities that have reached the final three are Medellin in Colombia and Buenos Aires in Argentina.

Ms Robison said:

�Working with and learning from the IOC�s expertise and experience is a hugely exciting prospect for both Glasgow and Scotland and combined with our own experience, we are confident we can host a fantastic Youth Olympic Games.

�The Games will not only provide young athletes with the opportunity to compete at the top of their field, it will act as an inspiration for those young people across the country to get active and develop their interest in sport. We want to see young people become champions of their own lives, with a vision for all young people to have the chance to succeed and flourish.

�That�s why we have decided, with a successful bid to host the Games, it is only right that we designate 2018 the Year of Young People in Scotland. We want to make sure that our young people get the most of educational and cultural opportunities on offer. I am confident that the programme that will emerge will be one that is energetic and exciting � just like Scotland�s young people!�