Chancellor John Healey will announce a £7m fund in Wednesday’s Budget to launch a full feasibility study for a potential “Northern Games,” marking a significant step toward hosting the Olympics in northern England. The investment aims to assess the viability of a bid for the 2040s, shifting focus away from London and seeking to distribute the economic and social benefits of the global sporting event across the country’s industrial heartlands.
Chancellor’s first budget signals serious intent to bring the Games to the North by the 2040s.
The proposal follows the legacy of London 2012, the last time the UK hosted the Olympics. While a 2013 UK Trade and Investment report estimated the Games boosted the economy by £9.9bn—a figure that has faced scrutiny—officials argue that a northern host could generate similar regional growth. The feasibility study will evaluate infrastructure, cost, and logistical challenges, providing a data-driven basis for any future bid decision.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has voiced strong support for the initiative, emphasizing the unifying power of the event. “Few things bring a country together quite like the Olympics,” Burnham told the BBC. “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.” The move signals a strategic pivot in UK sports policy, prioritizing regional engagement over centralized hosting.
Source: BBC Sport
