UK commissions study on hosting 2040s Olympics in northern England

The government has begun an initial assessment into whether the Olympic and Paralympic Games could be hosted in the north of England in the 2040s, commissioning UK Sport to examine the costs, potential regeneration benefits and the likelihood of a successful bid. If the work eventually leads to a further feasibility study and a bid, it would be the first Olympic Games staged in Britain outside London since 2012.

Ministers said the move is intended to use major sport and infrastructure investment to support regeneration across towns and cities in the region. The assessment, announced by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, will consider the economic case for hosting, the broader socioeconomic impacts, and whether a credible bid can be developed. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy described the decision as a vote of confidence in the north, saying London 2012 “showed what the Olympics can do for our country” and that “Its time the Olympics came north and we showed what we can offer to the world.”

Nandy also framed the plan as part of a wider approach to sport-led growth, linking it to government efforts to back stadium and sporting infrastructure projects. Alongside the Olympics...