By Duncan Mackay

Poznan old_townMarch 2 - Poznan, who unsuccessfully bid for the 2014 Summer Youth Olympic Games, have joined the race for the 2018 edition, making it six cities to have submitted applications by the deadline, it was announced today.


They filed a late bid before yesterday's final deadline to join a field that already includes Buenos Aires in Argentina, Glasgow in Britain, Guadalajara in Mexico, Medellín in Colombia and Rotterdam in the Netherlands. 

Mooted late bids from South Africa and Sweden failed to materialise.

It followed the decisions yesterday by Dagestan and Abuja to abandon proposed bids.

But Jacques Rogge, the President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), was still pleased with the number of bidders.

"We are delighted with the high level of interest shown in hosting the third Summer Youth Olympic Games in 2018," he said.

"It is a shining endorsement of just how successful the inaugural summer [Singapore 2010] and winter [Innsbruck 2012] editions were and reflects how the popularity, excitement and awareness surrounding the YOG continue to build at an impressive pace."

Poznan, which is located on the Warta river in west-central is Poland's fifth largest city, had bid for the 2014 Youth Olympics but lost to Nanjing by five votes.

Guadalajara also bid for the 2014 Youth Olympics but dropped out before the final vote.

Poznan will have the ideal opportunity to showcase their city later this year when they are one of the hosts for football's 2012 European Championships, which Poland is co-hosting with the Ukraine.

Poznan City_Stadium
The City Stadium has undergone major renovations for the Championships so it is ready to stage three matches during Euro 2012, including Ireland versus Italy on June 18. 

The next deadline for the 2018 bid process is March 15, when the cities must submit the signed 2018 Youth Olympic Games Candidature Procedure.

They must then submit their Application Candidate file by October 15 before the IOC Executive Board will produce a shortlist in February 2013.

The IOC Evaluation Commission will then produce a report in May 2013 before the final vote in July 2013.

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