Ten young men and women from all five continents will be selected, in partnership with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the continental associations, to be based at the Glasgow 2018 headquarters a year before the Games get underway as part of the £2.5 million ($3.9 million/€2.9 million) project.

The National Olympic Committee (NOC) Exchange Programme will "embrace the Olympic Values of excellence, friendship and respect and equip the young people with invaluable skills and lasting friendships as they help prepare for the YOG", according to Glasgow 2018.

"The NOC Exchange Programme illustrates Glasgow's ability to leverage its existing youth and education infrastructure to deliver global impact for the Olympic Movement," 2018 bid director Paul Bush said.

"Glasgow has a total commitment to help the visionary ideals of the YOG grow and flourish and is in a position to do that by working through proven partnerships."


Glasgow 2018's CEP, which will see athletes taking part in a wide range of activities alongside their sporting schedule during the Games, has been designed to help young people "become champions in their own lives" by raising attainment, creating opportunities and encouraging them to lead healthy and active lives.

"This programme is a measure of the ambition Glasgow has to share the legacy of the Youth Olympic Games with the world and ensure that the 2018 Games achieve maximum global impact for the Olympic Movement," Sebastian Coe, chairman of the British Olympic Association (BOA), said.

"These 50 young people will have the amazing opportunity to come to the city to share and learn with each other and return to their continents as powerful advocates for the values of excellence, friendship and respect."

Glasgow is currently in a bidding race alongside Buenos Aires and Medellín to host the 2018 Youth Olympic Games, with the host city due to be elected by the IOC in Lausanne on July 4 this year.

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