Can the North truly host an Olympic spectacle? The new report will dive deep into how staging the games might work.
Planners will map required venues and transport links, explore city‑sharing models, and gauge community benefits.
It will also crunch the likely price tag and gauge bid viability. The 2013 coalition claimed London’s Games cost £8.9bn.
A 2013 UK Trade and Investment analysis – now under the Department for International Trade – said the event sparked a £9.9bn economic boost via contracts, sales and foreign investment.
Those figures were challenged by the Federation of Small Businesses and the National Institute of Economic and Social Research.
The feasibility study will be a joint effort by government, UK Sport, the Northern Mayors and the British Olympic and Paralympic associations.
For my money, the legacy potential outweighs the short‑term hype. Healey said, “Olympic legacy stretches far beyond a summer of sport. The North hosting an event this big would be truly unforgettable.”
He added, “Britain proved its capacity at London 2012, and we’re accelerating work on a possible bid. It will energise communities, create jobs and give the UK a massive lift.”
The funding announcement was greeted positively by the British Olympic Association, ParalympicsGB and UK Sport.
They issued a joint statement: “We welcome the government’s continued backing to explore a future Olympic and Paralympic bid in the 2040s.”
Building on London 2012’s success, they said they look forward to partnership opportunities and the national benefits the games could bring. Will the North seize this moment to shape the next Olympic chapter?