North of England Olympic bid for 2040s being assessed

The government has commissioned UK Sport to conduct an "initial strategic assessment" into a potential bid for the north of England to host the Olympics and Paralympics in the 2040s.

It said the funding agency would examine whether the UK could host the Games for the first time since London 2012, along with potential cost, socio-economic benefit and any bid's chance of success.

"For too long we have been told the Olympics is simply too big and too important to be hosted in the north", Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy told BBC Sport.

"Not any more. It's time the Olympics came north and we showed what we can offer to the world.

"We know that we can pull off the most incredible, not just bid, but Olympics. So we're kick-starting that with a phase-one study about the investment, the resources, the infrastructure, the transport that we're going to need."

The findings of UK Sport's study will determine whether to proceed with a more detailed "technical feasibility study", with a final decision on any bid resting with the British Olympic Association (BOA).

Background

In February, a group of northern political leaders urged the government to ensure any future Olympic bid would be based in the region, claiming there was a "compelling" case, and that it "already has many of the foundations in place to deliver a world-class Games, including elite sporting venues, major stadia and arenas".

It came after London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan said last year that he wanted the Games to return to the capital.

North East Mayor Kim McGuinness said: "I'm delighted ministers and sporting bodies are now exploring how we could turn this ambition into a reality. We stand ready to work together to develop a credible, deliverable vision that can make the case to the International Olympic Committee (IOC)."

More than two-thirds of the UK public felt the £8.77bn cost of London 2012 was worth the money, according to a survey conducted the following year, despite it being three times more than the original budget.

The event was also credited with helping to regenerate east London and boosting the economy. However, it also failed to deliver the increase in sporting participation that organisers had hoped for.

"It was incredible for the country", said Nandy. "It brought in significant amounts of investment… it brought the whole nation together."

Sporting infrastructure

Manchester failed with bids for the 1996 and 2000 Olympics, but went on to successfully host the 2004 Commonwealth Games, with the City of Manchester Stadium used as the athletics venue. It was then converted into a football arena for Manchester City, since renamed Etihad Stadium, one of a number of major sporting venues across the region.