Northern political leaders have urged the UK government to support a multi-city Olympic and Paralympic Games bid for the 2040s, arguing that the region has been "left out of the national story". In a letter to Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy, 11 leaders from across the north proposed a games spanning an area with a population of 15 million, aiming to boost regeneration and rebalance the economy.
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham said it "wouldn't be fair or right" for London to host a fourth Olympics, adding that a northern bid was "what Britain needs right now". London Mayor Sadiq Khan had previously expressed interest in a 2040 bid, which would come nearly 30 years after the capital hosted the 2012 Games.
Sir Brendan Foster, founder of the Great North Run, backed the proposal, calling for a "fairer distribution of major international sporting events across the country". He noted that while iconic events like Wimbledon and the London Marathon are rightly celebrated in the capital, government-financed global events should follow a balanced national approach.
The leaders believe they are in strong contention after the International Olympic Committee prioritised multi-city events. They also hope Prime Minister Keir Starmer will see political benefits, as Labour trails Reform UK in polls and faces challenges in former heartlands. Former Olympic boxing champion Luke Campbell, now Reform UK mayor of Hull and East Yorkshire, said bringing the Olympics to the north would give children "something to aim for" and create real opportunities.
Mayors highlighted the north's sporting heritage, including Sheffield's role in writing football's original rules in 1858, and its elite venues. Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram described a northern games as a "once-in-a-lifetime chance to bring the Olympics closer to ordinary communities". However, they aim to avoid the costly legacy of the 2012 Games, which cost nearly £8.8bn and was described as a "cautionary tale" in a 2024 study.
A spokesperson for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport said the decision on a bid rests with the British Olympic Association, declining to comment further on the northern proposal.
