By Tom Degun

Jade JonesMarch 22 - Olympic taekwondo champion Jade Jones has backed the 2018 Youth Olympic Games to go to Glasgow, claiming the event in the Scottish city would help recreate the atmosphere of London 2012.


Jones, who won Britain's first ever taekwondo Olympic gold medal at London 2012, is also Britain's first ever Youth Olympic Games champion also taking victory at the inaugural edition of the competition in Singapore in  2010.

The 20-year-old from Wales has now joined the growing list of high-profile supporters for the Glasgow 2018 Youth Olympic bid and says she is hopeful Scotland will be awarded the event.

"The Youth Olympic Games hold a special place in my heart," said Jones.

"Singapore 2010 was the start of an incredible Olympic journey for me and I would love to see the Youth Olympic Games come to Glasgow in 2018.

"London 2012 showed just how passionate the British public is when it comes to sport and that is what young people can expect in Glasgow.

"I know that Glasgow will be the beginning of a great Olympic career for so many young athletes."

As well as Jones, Britain's most successful female rower Katherine Grainger and swimming star Michael Jamieson have pledged their support for the bid.

Grainger won gold at London 2012 to add to her three previous Olympic silver medals and six world titles while Jamieson took a silver medal in the men's 200 metres breaststroke at the Olympics.
 
Micheal Jamieson YOGScottish swimmer Michael Jamieson, who won a silver medal at the London 2012 Olympics, has backed the Glasgow 2018 Youth Olympic Games bid

"Glasgow has an outstanding track record of hosting major sporting events," said Grainger.

"Over the years the city has shown it has what it takes to put on a show and this is exactly what it aims to do in 2018.

"Glasgow 2018 will inspire young people to be champions in their lives.

"We want to reach out to young people across the world and make 2018 a year to remember for young people."

Jamieson, a former pupil at the Glasgow School of Sport, was equally delighted to show his support for the bid.

"Having grown up in Glasgow I am passionate about this bid and the commitment in Glasgow to developing sport at all levels," he said.

"Glasgow is a vibrant, energetic and passionate city and one that the young people of the world would respond to in 2018."

The Glasgow 2018 bid campaign has already won the support of the Prime Minister David Cameron and numerous British Olympians including Dame Kelly Holmes, Beth Tweddle and Kristian Thomas.

Glasgow are bidding against Buenos Aires in Argentina and Medellín in Colombia for the right to stage the 2018 Youth Olympic Games.

The full IOC membership is set to vote on the winner later this year at their Extraordinary Session in Lausanne on July 4.

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