The European Aquatics Federation (LEN) Bureau voted in favour of the city at its meeting, which took place in Berlin alongside this year's edition of the continental flagship tournament in swimming, diving, synchronised swimming and open water swimming, which is currently taking place in the German capital.

It means Britain will hold back-to-back versions of the European Championships as London had already been selected to stage the next edition in 2016.

Paolo Barelli, the President of the LEN, claimed Glasgow's recent hosting of the successful 2014 Commonwealth Games acted as a guarantee of its capabilities in staging a major international sporting event.

"The new policy of LEN is to choose major European cities in order to ensure the best possible conditions to the continent's elite swimmers, divers, synchro swimmers and open water swimmers and to all representatives of our national federations," he said.

"The LEN Bureau acted in this sense while choosing Glasgow.

"Everyone had the chance to watch the outstanding success of the Commonwealth Games, recently held in the city.

"Organising that event at such a high level is a kind of guarantee for us for 2018.

"We are very much looking forward to see our European Championships being hosted in wonderful venues in 2018 and our great athletes of the four disciplines enjoying the warm hospitality of the people of Scotland."

Barelli said that by giving Glasgow four years' notice the city will have plenty of time to prepare for the event in "the best possible way".

The Tollcross International Swimming Centre, which was the stage for swimming events at Glasgow 2014, has already been awarded the hosting rights for the 2015 IPC Swimming World Championships ©Getty Images


Shona Robison, Scotland's Cabinet Secretary for Commonwealth Games and Sport, highlighted venues such as the Tollcross International Swimming Centre - host of the 2015 International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Swimming World Championships, Strathclyde Country Park and Edinburgh's Royal Commonwealth Pool, which hosted events at Glasgow 2014, for the European Championships.

Meanwhile, Glasgow City Council Leader Councillor Gordon Matheson claimed the awarding of the biennial competition to Scotland is an early legacy from hosting the Commonwealth Games.

"The decision by LEN to choose Glasgow as the host for the Championships in 2018 is a direct legacy from hosting the Commonwealth Games where the swimming events were among the highlights with capacity crowds and incredible performances contributing to what have been declared the best ever Games," he said.

"I was delighted to welcome LEN President Paolo Barelli to Tollcross during the Games to discuss bringing this event to our world-class venue and to showcase our capacity to deliver excellent, innovative and exciting sporting events.

"The Commonwealth Games was a game-changer for Glasgow but we are not resting on our laurels and this fantastic Championships adds to our roster which include both the IPC World Swimming Championships at Tollcross and the Gymnastics World Championships at the Hydro in 2015.

"We look forward to continuing our sporting journey with this prestigious event as we work hard to develop job and investment opportunities for the citizens of Glasgow in one of the world's top ten sporting cities."

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