Northern Ireland has been selected as the host for the 2021 Commonwealth Youth Games.

The nation was the only bidder for the Games, after original rivals Jersey and Botswana withdrew from the race. Northern Ireland Commonwealth Games chair Robert McVeigh said it was a “hugely significant day’ for local sport.

“It offers a great opportunity for children of upper primary school and Year 9 age to strive towards being part of the largest ever Team NI at Commonwealth Youth Games,” he added.

“We look forward to the tremendous support for which the Northern Ireland public is renowned.”

The Mary Peters Track in Belfast is expected to host the athletics events, while the gymnastics and swimming will be held in Lisburn and the Bangor Aurora complex respectively. Around 1,000 athletes, aged 14 to 18, will participate in the event, which will run between 27 July and 1 August.

A formal announcement was made by Commonwealth Games NI patron Dame Mary Peters at Belfast City Hall yesterday (1 February).

The next Youth Games are to take place in the Bahamas in 2017, when the event will revert to a four-year cycle. The previous Games were held in Samoa in 2015.