At the heart of Glasgow's bid for the 2018 Youth Olympics is a Culture and Education Programme (CEP), which aims to teach young people about their own tradition and background as well as others from around the world, officials claim.

The Celtic Connections Education Programme has reached 80 per cent of schools in the city, with 5,000 children attending free performances for schools in the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall this year.

The annual festival's Education Programme features Celtic musicians giving free workshops in Glasgow schools during which children can experience traditional Celtic instruments, as well as Scots song and Scottish step dance.

Glasgow 2018 Bid Director, Paul Bush, said: "As a city, Glasgow is committed to involving young people in its many sporting and cultural programmes such as the outstanding Celtic Connections festival.

"This approach engages young people at an early age and is an area we are keen to build on as part of our bid to bring the Youth Olympic Games to Glasgow."

"Our bid has young people at its very heart and will create a dynamic programme of both sporting competition and cultural opportunities that will engage the young people of Glasgow, Scotland, the UK and the world.

"This approach will inspire a new generation to live by the Olympic values."

Students from St Ambrose High School in Glasgow are given a musical workshop experience as part of the Celtic Connections Festival Culture and Education Programme

Around 20,000 secondary school pupils have "backed" Glasgow's Bid for the 2018 Youth Olympics, and of the campaign's 36,000 Facebook 'likers', 70 per cent are under the age of 24.

The shortlist for 2018 Youth Olympic Games bid cities is due to be announced this Wednesday (February 13), with Buenos Aires, Guadalajara, Medellin and Rotterdam also in the running.

The announcement of the winning bid city will be made on July 4 this year.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]