Both were the only candidates for their respective events, but each was praised by the European Olympic Committees at its 43rd General Assembly as being "very strong".

More than 1,500 young athletes are expected to compete at Erzurum, which hosted the 2011 Winter Universiade, when it holds the Festival between February 9 and 16 in five years time.

"In Turkey we are committed to ensuring that sustainability is at the forefront of our minds
when we are hosting these major events and we have been eager to use the wonderful
facilities from the Winter Universiade in 2011 to continue to promote sport participation
among our nation's many young people," said Uğur Erdener, President of the National Olympic Committee of Turkey (NOCT). 

"As you all know, 40 per cent of the Turkish population is below the age of 25.

"They are the perfect place to start to ensure that we create a society which holds the Olympic values at its core.

"The people of Erzurum are passionate about their city as a destination for exciting winter sport events and will be delighted to welcome their fellow athletes from all over the continent in 2019."

Minsk's delegation for its bid to host the 2019 Summer European Youth Olympic Festival included Athens 2004 Olympic 100m champion Yulia Nestsiarenka ©Facebook

Minsk, the capital of Belarus, will hold the Summer EYOF between July 20 and July 28, an event they expect to attract more than 3,500 athletes.

Minsk's presentation team included Yulia Nestsiarenka, the Olympic 100 metres gold medallist at Athens 2004. 

Both events were awarded by acclamation following a report from Jozef Liba, the Slovakian who headed the EOC Evaluation Commission.

"Both candidatures are very strong," he told the General Assembly.

"Both cities would organise Games of the highest standard."

Vorelberg in Austria and Liechtenstein are due to host the 2015 Winter EYOF, with Georgian capital Tbilisi hosting the Summer event.