The deadline for cities to register an interest in becoming a candidate city is January 30, 2012, and the BOA will decide by the end of February whether a formal bid will be submitted. The International Olympic Committee will announce a shortlist of candidate cities for the 2018 Games in January 2013 before the winning bid is unveiled in the summer of 2013.

The inaugural Youth Olympics took place in Singapore in 2010 and, after the first edition of the Youth Winter Games takes place in Innsbruck, Austria, the second edition of the summer event will be staged in the Chinese city of Nanjing in 2014. The 2018 Youth Games is expected to attract 3,600 athletes between the ages of 15 and 18, with all 28 Summer Olympic sports on display for the duration of the 12-day event.

In announcing the invitation to cities, the BOA stated that applicants must present a vision that is consistent with the cities’ “own priorities and plans for sport, the community and youth as well as the Olympic Movement's priorities”. The BOA added that applicants must also demonstrate plans for an innovative culture and education program surrounding the Games. “Having experienced first-hand the excellent inaugural Youth Olympic Games in Singapore it is exciting that we have the opportunity to consider bidding to host this fantastic youth focused event,” said BOA chief executive Andy Hunt.

“Delivering a tangible, UK-wide sporting legacy was a key element of London’s bid for the 2012 Olympics, so it would be fitting if hosting the 2018 Youth Olympic Games contributed to bringing this ambition to life,” Hunt added. “While inviting expressions of interest from cities in the UK who wish to put themselves forward as potential candidate cities is an essential step in the process, it is important to be clear that ultimately, the decision whether to submit a bid to the International Olympic Committee rests with the National Olympic Committee.”