London mayor Sadiq Khan has criticised plans for the north of England to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games, arguing that excluding the capital would be a 'missed opportunity'. The government has commissioned UK Sport to assess a potential bid for the 2040s, which would be the first time Britain hosts the Games since London 2012.
A spokesperson for Khan said: 'London is the sporting capital of the world and the mayor has openly expressed his ambition for the capital to be part of a future Olympic and Paralympic Games.' They added that a country-wide bid using existing assets like the London Stadium would deliver the greenest and most sustainable Games, unlocking economic growth across the UK.
The plans were welcomed by two northern ministers: Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy, MP for Wigan, and Chancellor Rachel Reeves, MP for Leeds West and Pudsey. Nandy said: 'It's time the Olympics came north and we showed what we can offer to the world.' Reeves added that backing the Games would boost the northern growth corridor and support stadium regeneration plans.
The government has also appointed Labour peer Lord McConnell as a ministerial adviser on soft power and major events, and introduced a sporting events bill to ease bidding for major tournaments. London has hosted the Summer Olympics three times (1908, 1948, 2012), as has Paris (1900, 1924, 2024), with Los Angeles set to host in 2028.
