A STRATEGY has been launched aimed at strengthening Glasgow's position as one of the world's leading destinations for sport.
In recent years, the city has hosted international competitions in athletics, gymnastics, badminton, football, boxing, table tennis, netball, rugby and volleyball.
In weeks, it will host Olympic football matches and in 2014 it will welcome the Commonwealth Games.
It will also host the track cycling world cup this year, the world youth netball championships and the world junior track cycling championships next year, along with the European swimming championships and world artistic gymnastic championships in 2015.
And it has bid for the 2018 Youth Olympic Games which would bring 3600 athletes to the city from 205 countries for 28 sports.
Almost £300million has been spent on facilities such as the £113m Commonwealth Arena and £18m Scotstoun Stadium.
The sports event strategy was launched by city council leader Gordon Matheson when he joined members of the City of Glasgow Athletics Club.
He said: "Glasgow is known across the world as one of the great sporting cities.
"Our sports events strategy is already delivering real results and we have secured a host of major international events over the coming years.
BUT we want to build on our position as one of the leading destinations for world sport."
Paul Bush, chief operating officer for EventScotland, said: "Glasgow's new sports events strategy underlines the ambition and determination in the city to attract and secure major international events."
The strategy document says its vision is of a welcoming, vibrant sporting city where residents, athletes and visitors share experiences of high calibre sports competitions, organised and delivered to exceptional standards.
It adds: "Underlying Glasgow sports event strategy to 2018 is the investment in world class venues.
"From parents and toddlers to local sports clubs and elite national squads, these facilities are at the heart of daily community life for thousands of Glaswegians."
The strategy also sets out to establish an annual core programme of international sporting events for the period 2012 to 2018 covering at least eight Commonwealth and Olympic sports.
A key aim is to ensure Glasgow retains its position as one of the world's top sporting cities in the Ultimate Sports City Awards.
Earlier this week, the city was ranked ninth and named best in the world in terms of sports marketing and branding.
vivienne.nicoll@ eveningtimes.co.uk