The Polish city narrowly lost out to Nanjing for the 2014 edition by five votes but is seen among the favourites on this occasion, especially after successfully hosting three matches during the Euro 2012 football championships. 

Impact34, whose chief executive is Bettina Kuperman, is located mainly in Istanbul but is part of the London-based Porta Communications Plc. 

The company have previously worked with the National Olympic Committee of Turkey and the Turkish Basketball Federation and will be hoping to help convince the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to award the Youth Olympics to Poznań, Poland's fifth largest city.

Besides Euro 2012, Poznań has also staged a number of other top events, including the 2009 FISA World Rowing Championships and the ICF Canoe World Sprint Championships in 2010.

"We are delighted to have been chosen by Poznań to help deliver their 2018 Youth Olympic bid to the IOC," said Kuperman.

"We have seen the great development of the city in the last few years."

Poznań face tough opposition for the Youth Olympics from Buenos Aires, Glasgow, Guadalajara, Medellín and Rotterdam.

But Kuperman believes that the recent football, which included two matches featuring the Republic of Ireland, will have helped their cause.

The Stadion Miejski (pictured above) was redeveloped for Euro 2012 and is expected to figure in some form if Poznań's bid is successful.

The city's name has also become famous recently thanks to "The Poznań", a celebration first used by Lech Poznań supporters and which involves the fans turning their backs to the pitch, joining arms and jumping up and down in unison.

It is now become known all over the world after it was adopted by supporters of Premier League champions Manchester City.

Ireland fans do the Poznań celebration during the UEFA Euro 2012 match against Italy in the Stadion Miejski

"The success from hosting major events such as the UEFA Euro 2012 has shown the world that Poznań and Poland can stage and deliver world-class major events," said Kuperman.

"The city is committed to developing sport and hosting major international events.

"Poznań offers great sporting and transport infrastructure and by hosting this great event Poland would also confirm its well deserved place in Olympic history."

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is due to announce the host city in June 2013.

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