GLASGOW is aiming to attract European or World Championship events each year from 2015 to 2018 in a strategy to cement its place as a global player in staging sporting competitions.
Launched yesterday, the plans also include hosting major events, including at least 10 sports in the Commonwealth Games programme this side of 2014, to build up audiences, improve Scotland's medal-winning potential and showcase and test the city's new venues.
Close to £300 million has been spent on new facilities in recent years including Scotstoun Stadium, the Commonwealth Arena and Tollcross International Swimming Centre.
Gordon Matheson, leader of Glasgow City Council and chairman of the City Marketing Bureau, launched the strategy alongside Michael Deason, 27, and Alistair Stanley, 16, from the Glasgow athletics team.
He said: "Glasgow is known across the world as one of the great sporting cities. That reputation has been built over a period of years thanks to our commitment to hosting world-class events and investment in state-of-the-art sports facilities
"Our strategy is already delivering real results and we have secured a host of major international events over the coming years. But we want to see that continue."
In recent years Glasgow has built up a calendar of sporting events and has hosted international competitions in athletics, gymnastics, badminton, football, boxing, table tennis, netball, rugby and volleyball.
As well as the 2014 Commonwealth Games, it will also host the 2012 Track Cycling World Cup, the 2013 World Youth Netball Championships, the 2013 World Junior Track Cycling Championships, the 2015 European Swimming Championships, and 2015 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships.
The events sought in the new Glasgow Sports Events Strategy would be in addition to these.
Glasgow is also bidding to host the 2018 Youth Olympic Games. If successful around 3600 young athletes from around 205 countries across the world will compete in 28 sports.
Earlier this week Glasgow was ranked 9th in the biannual Ultimate Sports City Awards, two years after finishing 11th.
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