SCHOOL children in Glasgow are backing the city's bid to host the 2018 Youth Olympic Games – and have also enlisted the support of pupils from further afield.
Pupils from St Bartholomew's Primary, Castlemilk, have joined forces with St Matthias School, in Tower Hamlets, London, to celebrate next month's Olympics, the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games and Glasgow's bid to host the 2018 Youth Olympic Games.
The partnership came about through the Caledonian Club at Glasgow Caledonian University.
The Caledonian Club aims to increase aspirations among school children to go on to achieve great things in their future working or student lives.
After the university opened a campus in London in 2010, it wanted to extend the work of the Caledonian Club to the capital. That led to the creation of the London Club and links between schools in the two cities.
Pupils from St Bartholomew's were at the launch of the Glasgow 2018 bid this week and were fascinated by what they saw.
Jane Saunders, head teacher at St Bartholomew's, said: "The launch was very exciting and the children loved it. They were awestruck and thrilled to be part of it.
"As a school we are right behind the bid because it will give young people something to aspire to and will help showcase Glasgow and dispel some of the myths associated with the city.
"The Youth Olympic Games would open up a world of possibilities for young people."
St Matthias' pupils joined their friends from St Bartholomew's at Glasgow Caledonian University this week to work on projects surrounding the London Olympic Games and Glasgow 2014.
And the youngsters all gave the city's 2018 Youth Olympic Games bid the thumbs-up.
St Matthias pupil Joe Alborough, 11, said: "I would love the Youth Games to be in Glasgow because it would be another really big sports event for the UK, just like the Olympics in London and the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
"I go past the Olympic Stadium in London every day on the way to school ... it's very exciting."
Helan Ali, 11, a pupil at St Bartholomew's, said: "It's lovely to have big events like that in our city. I hope Glasgow can host the Youth Olympic Games too."
Manpreet Kaur, 11, of St Matthias said: "I love badminton and basketball and the Youth Games have those sports and loads more."
And Rhys Ryan, 12, of St Bartholomew's, said: "We have so many good football matches in Glasgow and the Commonwealth Games are coming too, so I think we should also get the Youth Olympic Games."
Ms Saunders, who was crowned Head Teacher Of The Year at the Scottish Education Awards in Glasgow this month, said: "St Bartholomew's has been involved in a legacy project for the Olympics and the Commonwealth Games.
"Pupils have been down to London and also welcomed the St Matthias pupils to Glasgow.
"The excitement surrounding the London Olympics and the Glasgow Commonwealth Games has been incredible, and the prospect of the Youth Olympic Games has only added to that."
Buenos Aires in Argentina, Guadalajara in Mexico, Medellin in Colombia, Poznan in Poland and Rotterdam, Holland, also want to host the Youth Games.
Glasgow's bid is being boosted by a campaign called Be A Champion In Your Life, which encourages youngsters to be the best they can be in all aspects of their life.
The Glasgow 2018 logo was designed with help from children from the Glasgow School Of Sport at Bellahouston Academy, Shawlands Academy and the Young Voices group in Easterhouse.
l To show your support for the bid, log on to: www.glasgow2018.com
stef.lach@heraldandtimes.co.uk