Sir Brendan Foster, founder of the Great North Run, has declared that hosting the Olympic Games in the North of England would prevent a generation of Northerners from growing up feeling like 'second class citizens'. Speaking at a summit in Sheffield on June 23, 2026, the Olympic bronze medallist and athletics commentator threw his weight behind a bid to bring the Olympics and Paralympics to the North during the 2040s.
Summit in Sheffield Unites Northern Leaders
Metro mayors from across the North East, North West, and Yorkshire convened at Sheffield's Olympic Legacy Park to begin formulating a credible vision for a Northern-hosted Games. The plan, still in early stages, would distribute events across existing and new venues throughout the region. Sir Brendan described the concept as “completely alien to what we were brought up to believe” about the North's capabilities.
Infrastructure as the Real Prize
Sir Brendan emphasised that the primary benefit of hosting the Olympics is not the medals but the infrastructure legacy. “When I go to the Diamond League in London in a few weeks’ time and walk across Olympic Park, I remember in 2005 it was derelict,” he said. “The big prize for the Olympic Games is in the infrastructure and development and transport links.” He argued that such investment would transform the physical landscape and, crucially, the mindset of Northerners: “It is for people in the North of England to be aware that they are not second class citizens and that they are first class. It would be a huge step forward.”
Economic Potential and Public Support
The mayors' Great North partnership aims to unlock up to £118 billion in investment and create thousands of jobs. Sir Brendan stressed that the North's enthusiasm would make the Games “the friendliest, best, most exciting Games”, but reiterated that “the big prize would be the long overdue investment in the North of England to give us the capacity to grow.”
Steve Cram Backs Bid, Recalls London 2012
Fellow North East athlete Steve Cram, the former world record holder known as the 'Jarrow Arrow', also endorsed the bid. He noted that public support would be critical, recalling “a lot of negativity” before London 2012 but believing that positive memories now make it “a bit more of an open door”. Cram said: “We will need a lot of political support, which we have, and also a lot of public support. The public have to really want this because the IOC takes notice of what is being said locally. If the UK were to host the Olympic Games again, and there is no reason we shouldn’t because we do it very well, then why not bring it to a region which is passionate about sport, will support it, and where the infrastructure and investment it would require would be phenomenal for generations to come?”
More than 40 sporting greats have backed the bid, which aims to bring the Games to the North for the first time.
