£7m Budget fund to study Northern Olympics bid

The UK government plans to put £7m towards a feasibility study on whether the Olympic and Paralympic Games could be hosted across northern England in the 2040s. The funding is due to be announced in Chancellor John Healey’s first Budget on Wednesday.

The study would examine the venues and transport links required, how cities might share events and how communities could benefit. It will also assess the potential cost and the prospects of a successful bid; no decision to bid has been made.

The government asked UK Sport to make an initial assessment in May. The idea was put forward by northern mayors and backed by former Olympians, including Dame Laura Kenny and Dame Sarah Storey.

The last Olympics hosted in the UK were in London in 2012. A 2013 UK Trade and Investment report estimated that the Games generated a £9.9bn economic boost, though the figure was questioned by organisations including the Federation of Small Businesses and the National Institute of Economic and Social Research. The coalition government put the cost of hosting at £8.9bn.

Healey said the study would explore a potential bid and argued that hosting could create opportunities for communities. The British Olympic Association, ParalympicsGB and UK Sport welcomed the planned funding, saying they looked forward to examining the opportunity and its possible benefits.