The LEN Bureau voted in favour of Glasgow as the host of the 2018 European Championships in swimming, diving, synchronised swimming and open water swimming.

Glasgow emerged as the winner of the bidding procedure for the 2018 European Championships. President Paolo Barelli announced the result after the LEN Bureau meeting held in Berlin during the 32nd Europeans. The continental showcase will visit Scotland for the very first time in its history.

“The new policy of LEN is to choose major European cities in order to ensure the best possible conditions to the continent’s elite swimmers, divers, synchro swimmers and open water swimmers and to all representatives of our national federations” Paolo Barelli said. “The LEN Bureau acted in this sense while choosing Glasgow. Everyone had the chance to watch the outstanding success of the Commonwealth Games, recently held in the city. Organising that event at such a high level is a kind of guarantee for us for 2018.”

The LEN President added: “We are very much looking forward to see our European Championships being hosted in wonderful venues in 2018 and our great athletes of the four disciplines enjoying the warm hospitality of the people of Scotland.”

Paolo Barelli also noted that by taking this decision here in Berlin, four years before the start, “LEN is envisioning the need to allocate our most important events well in advance in order to secure enough time to our hosts to prepare everything the best possible way and be ready to stage a wonderful show, worthy of a worldwide attention and success.”

Members of the Glasgow bidding delegation were delighted after learning the LEN Bureau decision. Cabinet Secretary for Commonwealth Games and Sport Shona Robison said: “I am delighted that Glasgow has been chosen as the host of the 2018 European Swimming Championships. This is a hugely important event, won through a strategic partnership including EventScotland, Glasgow City Council and British Swimming, which will give us the opportunity for us to further the profile of swimming in Scotland.

Scotland is the perfect stage for events, and we have already demonstrated that we have the world-class professional facilities needed for an event such as this with the Tollcross International Swimming Centre, Strathclyde Country Park and Edinburgh’s Royal Commonwealth Pool as part of the Commonwealth Games.”

Councillor Gordon Matheson, Leader of Glasgow City Council, said: “The decision by LEN to choose Glasgow as the host for the championships in 2018 is a direct legacy from hosting the Commonwealth Games where the swimming events were among the highlights with capacity crowds and incredible performances contributing to what have been declared the best ever Games. I was delighted to welcome LEN President Paolo Barelli to Tollcross during the Games to discuss bringing this event to our world-class venue and to showcase our capacity to deliver excellent, innovative and exciting sporting events.”

Press release from LEN