GLASGOW'S bid to host the 2018 Youth Olympic Games has captured the imagination of the city's young athletes – none more so than identical twins Matthew and Christopher Grimley.

The 12-year-olds are among the best young badminton players in the country and will be just the right age to compete in the event by the time 2018 comes around.

Although they know there is a long road of hard work ahead of them, they say they will be even more motivated to make the Great Britain team if the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) are hosted here in their home city.

The Cardonald boys attend the Glasgow School of Sport where they benefit from the best coaching in their quest to be Olympic badminton stars.

Matthew said: "It's definitely one of our goals to play badminton at the 2018 YOG and hopefully it is in Glasgow.

"Our mum and dad play badminton and that's how we started playing it. We were six when we first started and we have been at Glasgow School of Sport for one year now."

The boys used to attend Lourdes Primary School before they got the chance to move to the School of Sport, based at Bellahouston Academy.

They will start second year after the holidays when badmin-ton training will continue along with their studies.

The school's badminton programme supports and assists pupils' development in technical, tactical and physical aspects of badminton through individual and group training sessions during curricular time and after school hours.

Their coaches are Iain Pringle and Lena Robertson and they also work closely with Jill O'Neil, who is the badminton development officer with Glasgow Life, Glasgow City Council's art and leisure trust.

Matthew and Christopher both represent Scotland at their age group and the school aims to help them progress to GB level – exactly where they hope to be in 2018.

Christopher said: "It would be great if the Games were in Glasgow because the athletes would get the support from the whole country and from the home crowd."

The twins have already won a host of titles and are the current Scottish National Under 13 Doubles champions. They also hold the doubles titles for Glasgow, the West of Scotland and the East of Scotland.

Matthew is the Scottish Under 13 Singles champion and Christopher holds the Glasgow Under 13 Singles title.

Lena Robertson, one of the twins' coaches at Glasgow School of Sport, said: "The boys both love badminton and it's almost impossible to get them off the court. At this age and with their enthusiasm, motivation isn't a problem in the slightest.

"They push each other too as they have that natural competitiveness that twins have.

"Sometimes when young athletes get to the age of 15 or 16 they fall away from the sport, but I don't see that as a possibility with Matthew and Christopher.

"They are at the top of their game in their age group and they both want to stay there."

While 2018 is a long way off, Christopher and Matthew have already been bitten by the Olympic bug.

They are very excited about London 2012 and watching the badminton competition this summer.

Christopher said: "We are going to the Olympics. My mum managed to get us tickets so we're all going down to watch." Matthew added: "We can't wait!"

stef.lach@heraldandtimes.co.uk