Glasgow Chamber Of Commerce

Glasgow has officially launched its bid to host the third Olympic Youth Games in 2018.

The Glasgow 2018 Bid Committee is a strong partnership between Glasgow City Council, the Scottish Government and the British Olympic Association. The Bid also has the full and active backing of the UK government, including the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, and national youth initiatives, like Young Scot.

On 15 October, Glasgow 2018 will submit its Candidature File to the International Olympic Committee with the election taking place in July 2013.

Why Glasgow? Why YOG? And why now?

Glasgow's has undergone an economic transformation benefitting from two decades of one of the world's most ambitious programmes of reinvention, regeneration and renewal - not just of buildings and infrastructure, but of the city's people. Glasgow has strived for excellence in sports, the arts, entrepreneurship, food, fashion and multiculturalism. In doing so, it has created a generation of new and exciting opportunities for its people. The city has achieved some remarkable things - but there is so much more to be done.

Some examples success of Glasgow's reinvention, regeneration and renewal include:

• 80,000 new jobs created in the city between 1995 and 2008
• Between 1998 and 2001 the city's financial services sector grew by 30%. The city is now ranked as Top 15 European Financial Centre after the creation of the International Financial District (Global Financial Centres Index 2012).
• Since 2005 conference business has been worth £827m to the city's economy, equating to three million delegate nights and reinforcing Glasgow's position as Scotland's conference capital.
• Glasgow attracted 2.3m visitors in 2010 spending £595m.
• £1bnhas been invested in social housing across the city.
• Glasgow is now the UK's largest and most successful shopping location outside the west end of London.
• Millions have been invested in transport infrastructure. The completion of the M74 will help create an estimated additional 20,000 jobs in Glasgow and the West of Scotland by opening up land for development.
• Glasgow still has a strong manufacturing sector - the fourth largest in the UK, accounting for well over 60 per cent of Scotland's manufactured exports.

 

This Bid comes at a unique moment in history. Glasgow 2018 is the point where the city's journey meets the UK's Olympic journey. The Youth Olympic Games is a chance to secure a concrete, lasting legacy for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games and ensure we continue to deliver on the economic benefits these events will bring to businesses in Glasgow and throughout Scotland. It will also showcase Glasgow and Scotland on the global stage.

Empowering Young People

Across Scotland we are all too aware of the acute challenges young people facing in finding long term sustainable employment. With the IOC as our enabler, Glasgow can share and learn with the world through the power of the Olympic Movement. We can develop new, innovative and sustainable programmes to help tackle the challenges young people face in Glasgow, Scotland, the UK and beyond. The Glasgow 2018 Youth Olympic Games would empower young people globally to believe they can be champions in their lives.

The Glasgow 2018 Youth Olympic Games Vision

A Youth Olympic Games that empowers young people globally to believe they can be champions in their lives, and that inspires the world to support them.

The Glasgow 2018 Bid Committee Mission

To deliver a vote-winning proposition with the talents, the needs and the aspirations of young people at its heart.

To celebrate a contemporary, culture-rich, surprising Scotland and amplify the legacy of London 2012 and Glasgow 2014.

Glasgow 2018's offering

A city committed to putting the talents, needs and aspirations of young people at the heart of the Youth Olympic Games.

Glasgow aspires for excellence for all of its young people despite the challenges many of them face. The YOGis the next step in the journey.

Glasgow 2018 would amplify and accelerate the legacy of the Commonwealth Games and London 2012 in the UK and beyond and provide a long-term social and economic impact for the IOC.

Glasgow 2018 would empower young people globally to believe they can be champions in their own lives.

• A record 86.4% of young people are now reaching 'positive destinations' after leaving school - work, further/higher education and training.
• The proportion of school leavers going on to further and higher education has increased year on year, reaching 56.8% in 2011.
• Around 2,000 apprenticeships have been created in the last three years through the Commonwealth Apprenticeship Initiative, the largest initiative of its kind in the UK.
• The Scottish Youth Parliament was established in 1999. The SYP has been at the forefront of youth engagement in civic democracy for the last 10 years.
• Scotland's youth agencies and charities have a proven track record in changing young people's lives. 420,000 young people carry the Young Scot NEC card.

 

Business Engagement

Key to the success of Glasgow 2014's winning bid was the ability to harness the support of Scotland's business community. Today's launch is the beginning of that ambition once again.

Over the next few months a programme of business engagement will begin. This is your opportunity to step up for the next generation, to step up for Glasgow 2018 and ensure we all work in partnership to achieve our ambitions of sustainable economic prosperity and employment opportunities for our young people.

We believe in the ability of our young people to achieve their potential.

Join us on this journey.

We look forward to working with you.

Find out more

Please visit our website at www.glasgow2018.com

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