A powerful coalition of mayors from Northern England has launched a formal bid to host the 2036 Summer Olympic Games, arguing it is time for the region to take centre stage after the success of London 2012. The group, operating under the banner 'The Great North', has written to Culture, Media and Sport Secretary Lisa Nandy, urging the government to support a northern-based Olympics as a transformative opportunity for the UK.
A Question of Fairness and National Rebalancing
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, one of eleven political leaders spearheading the campaign, stated that another Summer Games in London "wouldn't be fair or right." He emphasised that this is not a critique of the capital's unforgettable 2012 event, but a necessary step to recapture that national vibrancy and positivity for the North. "It's about recapturing that for the north of England," Burnham explained. "That's what Britain needs right now. If you set this ambition, the north will rise to it in the most breathtaking way."
Uniting Sporting and Political Leadership
The bid enjoys support from notable figures with deep Olympic heritage. Luke Campbell, the London 2012 gold medalist boxer who is now Mayor of Hull and East Yorkshire, has joined the call. He recalled how the 2012 Games "brought the country together" and sees this as a chance to showcase that England extends far beyond London's iconic symbols. "Everything in this country is so focused on London, but England isn't just about red buses and telephone boxes; this is our chance to show us off to the world," Campbell said.
Further athletic credibility is provided by Sir Brendan Foster, founder of the Great North Run and a bronze medalist in the 1976 Montreal Olympics. Foster powerfully argued, "It's time the north stops getting the crumbs, and gets the cake instead." The chair of 'The Great North' collaboration is Kim McGuinness, Mayor of the North East, who declared the region's unique sporting history makes it ideal for a "box office, world-leading Olympic Games."
Transforming Perception and Accelerating Regeneration
The formal letter to Secretary Nandy, as reported by The Sunday Times, frames the bid as a generational catalyst. It states: "A northern-based Olympic Games is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to accelerate regeneration, rebalance the economy, and reset international perceptions of England." The letter insists hosting the Games in the North would send a clear domestic and international signal that opportunity, ambition, and national pride are shared across the UK.
A source involved with the bid told The Times the initiative aims to shatter outdated stereotypes. "It's time that people stop thinking about the north as a post-industrial bleak landscape. It's not. It's full of vibrant, amazing cities, and beautiful settings and landscapes, which could be used to host the biggest sports event on earth and showcase the north of England to the world."
Regional Confidence and Collective Ambition
Oliver Coppard, Mayor of South Yorkshire, expressed unwavering confidence in the North's capabilities. "The north can put on a show, we can take on the world's biggest cultural festival and make a success of it," he asserted. This collective ambition comes as the bidding process for the 2036 Summer Olympics is officially open, providing a tangible pathway for the proposal.
The mayors' campaign strategically leverages the current global sporting spotlight, with Secretary Nandy having recently attended the Winter Olympics in Italy. The push for a 'Great North' Games represents a concerted effort to channel national investment and international attention towards Northern England, arguing that such a move is essential for both economic fairness and the nation's future sporting credibility.
