The race to host the 2018 Youth Olympic Games is down to five after the International Olympic Committee announced that it has received final submissions from the bidding candidate cities.

Three Latin American cities in Buenos Aires (Argentina), Guadalajara (Mexico) and Medellin (Columbia) were joined by Rotterdam (Netherlands) and Glasgow (Great Britain) as the final five hosts bidding for the third summer installment of the YOG. 

The candidate cities will be shortlisted by the IOC Executive Board on 12-13 February 2013 before the host city will be selected in Lausanne on 4 July 2013.

With the Olympic Games being held in Rio in 2016 it appears the three Latin American countries may already have their backs against the wall as the IOC may choose to journey outside of the region for the YOG two years later. 

Despite having not hosted an Olympic Games, Argentina will gain confidence knowing that Buenos Aires has been selected as the host of the 125th IOC session set to take place in September 2013. The session itself will announce the host of the 2020 Olympic Games and a new IOC president elected. With the country boasting a strong sporting culture, the city's current infrastructure will likely already fuflil the needs of the YOG. 

Fellow Latin American city Guadalajara pulled out of the running for the 2014 Youth Olympic Games to focus on getting facilities in place for the 2011 Pan American Games. Having now run the Pan Ams it will hope to prove that it has both the experience and facilities in place to bring the YOG to Mexico 50 years after Mexico City hosted the 1968 Summer Games.  

Columbia's Medellin is also not without its experience in hosting large sporting events as the second largest city in Columbia it was host of the 2010 South American Games. The country's focus on improving at the Olympic Games was also brought to light in London as they won 8 medals, the most ever by the country at a single Games. 

Scotland's largest city, Glasgow, will undoubtedly be one of the frontrunners having already secured the rights to host the 2014 Commonwealth Games and also being a host city of football for the London 2012 Games. The city is utilising iconinc football grounds and has opened the Sir Chris Hoy veledrome for the 2014 event with these venues likely to be a part of the 2018 YOG if they are successful in their bid. 

The final candidate, the youthful and vibrant city of Rotterdam, will be hoping that their experience in hosting World Championships in judo (2009), gymnastics (2010), table tennis (2011) will get their bid across the line. The nation might think the Games in some guise is just about due to return to the country having hosted the Amsterdam Summer Games way back in 1928.

With five intriguing and capable candidates hoping to host the Games there appears to be only one certainty in the bidding process - the YOG will make its first trip out of Asia in 2018.

The event started by the IOC to inspire young people around the world to participate in sport and live by the Olympic values debuted in 2010 in Singapore and will next take place in Nanjing, China from August 16-28, 2014. 

AOC