Chancellor John Healey is to announce a £7m fund to examine a potential future bid to host the Olympics in northern England in his first budget. The fund will support a full feasibility study for a northern Games, which, if successful, would be held in the north of England in the 2040s.
Background and Momentum
In May, before Andy Burnham entered No 10, the government commissioned an assessment by UK Sport that could inform a bid for the international sporting event in the 2040s. If the campaign were successful, it would be the first time the Olympic Games and Paralympics were hosted in Britain since London 2012.
Further momentum came in June when mayors from across the north of England met in Sheffield to discuss the possibility of a northern Olympic bid. More than 40 Olympians, Paralympians and elite athletes, including Laura Kenny, Jason Kenny, Sarah Storey, Beth Tweddle and Tom Pidcock, have signed a joint statement expressing their support for the idea.
Official Reactions
Announcing the fund, Burnham said an Olympics bid would "unlock opportunity across our towns and cities" and that "we can put on the greatest show on Earth". He added: "Few things bring a country together quite like the Olympics. I want people to feel that sense of excitement again, and to experience it in their own towns and communities, not just watch it on the telly."
Healey said: "The north hosting an event as big as this would be truly unforgettable. Britain's experience of London 2012 is proof we can host the world. I'm picking up the pace on our work to potentially bid for these prestigious games."
Feasibility and Partnerships
The full feasibility study will examine how the Games would work in practice, including types of venues and transport links needed, the prospects of developing a winning bid, and the potential cost and chances of success. The work will involve the government, UK Sport, the northern mayors, and the British Olympic and Paralympic Associations, who would ultimately be responsible for a bid.
The British Olympic Association, ParalympicsGB and UK Sport released a joint statement welcoming the news, saying they look forward to working in partnership to explore the opportunity and its benefits for the nation and the global Olympic and Paralympic movements.
Brisbane, Australia's third-largest city, will host the 2032 games. Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has previously criticised plans to explore a northern bid, saying that excluding London would be a "missed opportunity".
