THE EUROPEAN Athletics Indoor Championships could be coming to Glasgow in 2019.

British Athletics, together with Glasgow City Council and Event Scotland, submitted a formal bid to bring the championships to the city, following the success of the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Niels de Vos, chief executive of British Athletics, said: "The Commonwealth Games two years ago showed that Glasgow holds the ability to host big sporting events to the most exacting standards.

"This year’s 2016 Glasgow Indoor Grand Prix, hosted by British Athletics, sold out months in advance, also demonstrating the huge support for elite athletics there is within the Scottish public."

He said he was delighted to see the city, and Event Scotland, had decided to "build on the success" of the 2014 Games.

He added: "We believe that, if successful, Glasgow would establish a new standard for the European Indoor Athletics Championships against which all future editions would be measured."

The championships would be held in the Emirates, home to the European Judo Open last October.

A spokesman for British Athletics said the bid was centred around themes of "passion, innovation and integrity" and said they aimed to deliver "the best ever European Athletics Indoor Championships based around the passionate support of the Scottish people that was such an integral part of the winning formula at Glasgow 2014."

He said the Emirates offered a "modern, purpose built venue" with cutting edge technology that could deliver "world class presentation."

2012 Olympic Champion and 2015 World Champion, Jessica Ennis-Hill said: “Glasgow is a great sporting city with a real heritage for athletics.

"It hosted a hugely successful Commonwealth Games in 2014 with full stadiums and an amazing atmosphere. I personally feel Glasgow and its people would be very good hosts for the European Indoor Championships in 2019.”

The bid has financial backing from the Scottish Government and the city council.