£7m to explore a Northern Olympic and Paralympic Games bid for the 2040s

Plans to bring the Olympic and Paralympic Games back to the UK for the first time since London 2012 have taken a step forward, with £7 million confirmed in this week's Budget to explore a bid led by the North of England.

The money will pay for a full feasibility study into how the North could host a Games in the 2040s. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport says the event could transform the region, drive growth and give the whole country something to get behind.

What happens next

The study will look in detail at how a Games would work in practice: the venues and transport links needed, how hosting could be spread across the North, the costs and benefits for communities, and the chances of putting together a winning bid.

The proposal cleared its first hurdle in May, when UK Sport published an initial strategic assessment. The next phase will be led jointly by the government, UK Sport, the northern mayors and the British Olympic and Paralympic Associations, which would ultimately be responsible for any bid.

"Something everyone could get behind"

Prime Minister Andy Burnham said: "Few things bring a country together quite like the Olympics. 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 Games would unlock opportunity across our towns and cities for the whole country. From north to south, it would be something everyone could get behind and be proud of."

Chancellor John Healey said: "Olympic legacy lasts way beyond the celebration of sport over the summer. The North hosting an event as big as this would be truly unforgettable."

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy pointed to the country's sporting heroes, from Keely Hodgkinson and Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill to Hannah Cockcroft and Alistair Brownlee. "Every corner of the country will benefit from - and be inspired by - this remarkable event," she said.

A run of major events

The announcement comes amid a busy pipeline of big sporting occasions in the UK. Government backing helped bring last year's Women's Rugby World Cup, with its final at Twickenham, and next year's Tour de France and Tour de France Femmes Grand Départs, which will start in England, Scotland and Wales. UEFA EURO 2028 will be held across the UK and Ireland.

The government says major sporting events and facilities play a key role in driving economic growth and regeneration, improving pride in place and strengthening the UK's appeal around the world.

Birmingham knows the benefits

Birmingham has first-hand experience of what a multi-sport Games can do. The city hosted the Commonwealth Games in 2022, which brought a rebuilt Alexander Stadium in Perry Barr, the Sandwell Aquatics Centre nearby and a summer of sport that millions watched.

While a Northern Games would be centred well to the north of the city, any future bid would draw on the experience of recent hosts, and a home Olympics would bring opportunities for athletes, volunteers and businesses across the country.

No decision on a bid has been made yet. The feasibility study is the next step in deciding whether the UK should go for the Games once again.