Northern Olympics bid: Healey to announce £7m fund in first budget
A £7m fund announced in John Healey's first budget will finance a feasibility study into a northern Olympics bid that could take the Games to the north of England in the 2040s.
Northern Olympics bid: Healey to announce £7m fund in first budget
What the £7m fund will pay for
The chancellor's announcement puts money behind the idea of a northern Olympics bid: £7m for a full feasibility study into whether the north of England could host a future Games. If the bid proved successful, the Games would be held in the north of England in the 2040s. Healey will make the announcement in his first budget.
The study is expected to look at:
- the types of venues a northern Games would need
- the transport links required
- the costs involved
- the prospects of developing a winning bid
How the bid movement built
The idea has been gathering support since before Andy Burnham became prime minister. In May, the government commissioned an assessment by UK Sport that could inform a bid for the 2040s. In June, mayors from across the north of England met in Sheffield to discuss the possibility of a northern Olympic bid.
Athletes have also lent their weight. More than 40 Olympians, Paralympians and elite athletes signed a joint statement backing a northern Games. Those signing included Laura Kenny, Jason Kenny, Sarah Storey, Beth Tweddle and Tom Pidcock.
Burnham and Healey make the case
Burnham has argued that an Olympics bid would "unlock opportunity across our towns and cities", and that the aim now is to explore staging the Games again with the whole country behind it.
"Few things bring a country together quite like the Olympics. I want people to feel that sense of excitement again."
The chancellor is equally emphatic. Healey said "The north hosting an event as big as this would be truly unforgettable", and that "It will lift communities, create opportunities and give the UK a huge boost."
Reactions and what happens next
The governing bodies have responded positively. The British Olympic Association, ParalympicsGB and UK Sport issued a joint statement welcoming the news, saying "Building on the success and legacy of London 2012, we look forward to working in partnership". Alongside the government, UK Sport and the northern mayors, the British Olympic and Paralympic Associations would ultimately be responsible for any bid.
Not everyone is convinced. Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has criticised the plan, saying that excluding London would be a "missed opportunity".
Any British bid would be chasing a Games some years out: Brisbane, Australia's third-largest city, will host the 2032 Olympics, following hosts including Sydney, Tokyo and London. If a northern bid ultimately succeeded, it would be the first time Britain hosted the Olympics and Paralympics since London 2012. The next step is the feasibility study itself, funded by the £7m in the budget, which will examine venues, transport links and costs.
