A GLOBAL exchange project is part of a £15 million programme being developed to help Glasgow secure the 2018 Youth Olympic Games.

Organisers want 50 young people from all over the world to live in Scotland's biggest city for a year to help develop their £15.2m Culture and Education Programme (CEP) as well as help with the Games.

The details of the programme, which will go ahead if Glasgow is picked to be the host city, are released today.

The bid team said its aim was to reach out to young people across the world, using Glasgow's "existing expertise" in encouraging healthy and active lifestyles and promoting global citizenship.

Many elements of the project would be launched as early as 2016 if the go-ahead is given.

Glasgow, which is up against the Argentine capital Buenos Aires and Medellin in Colombia, is due to find out whether it has been chosen to host the event this Thursday at an event in Lausanne, Switzerland.

The programme would see the city's Youth Olympic Village become the heart of the CEP during Games-time, with athletes taking part in a Champions In Their Lives Programme.

This will include interactive sessions with Olympic ambassadors, sessions on anti-doping and the dangers of over-training, and the chance to socialise with other young people through a range of activities.

The National Olympic Committee exchange programme would see 10 young men and women from each of the continents represented by the Olympic Rings picked to live and work in Glasgow for a year.

Bosses want the dedicated team to help deliver the Games.

A sport spaces project, which would be led by young people and use undeveloped spaces across the globe to get more people to take part in Olympic sports, would also be implemented.

As well as the village, arts venues across Glasgow, including the Gallery of Modern Art (Goma), the Tramway and the Old Fruitmarket would be used in the projects.

The opening and closing ceremonies of the Youth Olympics will be staged at the SECC National Arena on the banks of the Clyde if the bid is successful.

Paul Bush, Glasgow 2018 bid director, said: "Our detailed and costed Culture and Education Programme is one of the central reasons why we believe Glasgow's is the bid which can project the Youth Olympic Games and the Olympic values across the globe, having a lasting impact on millions of young people and growing the brand.

"We want to develop our CEP through a committed partnership with the International Olympic Committee in a safe and welcoming city which is fun, multi-cultural and young and where lifelong friendships are formed."

Labour MSP Patricia Ferguson said: "The work that has gone into developing this programme of culture and education shows just what a strong proposition Glasgow is for the Youth Games.

"These plans would bring the positive impact of sport to young people across the globe, not just in Scotland.

"This would be the true legacy of the Games for future generations."

The latest news came after tennis ace Andy Murray backed the bid.

Before he began his Wimbledon campaign the Dunblane-born player said: "The Youth Olympic Games are all about encouraging kids to be champions and to work hard to achieve their goals.

"I think Scotland would embrace a Youth Olympics in a special way to help kids achieve their true potential, whatever their dreams are."