The government has commissioned an initial assessment into the possibility of bringing the Olympic and Paralympic Games to the North of England in the 2040s, alongside a broader push to
use sport as a catalyst for urban regeneration and economic growth.
Ministers have asked UK Sport to examine whether the UK could stage the Games for the first time since 2012 Summer Olympics, with a northern host region at the centre of any future bid.
The strategic review will consider the likely costs of hosting, the potential economic and social impact, and the prospects of a successful international bid.
The proposal forms part of a wider government strategy aimed at linking major sporting events and infrastructure projects to regional regeneration, investment and job creation.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said the success of London 2012 demonstrated the transformative power of the Olympics but argued that northern England had historically been overlooked as a potential host region.
She said the government wanted to challenge the perception that the Games were “too big and too important” to be staged in the North, describing the move as a “vote of confidence” in the region.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves said ministers hoped major sporting events could help stimulate economic growth and support the government’s Northern Growth Corridor ambitions.
She pointed to planned stadium-led regeneration projects, including proposals linked to Elland Road in Leeds, which could unlock housing, business and public space developments.
Alongside the Olympic feasibility study, ministers announced a new Stadium Regeneration Accelerator programme intended to support sports infrastructure projects across England. The initiative will bring together departments including the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, the Treasury and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, working with organisations such as the Premier League and the English Football League.
The programme will focus on removing planning and investment barriers around large-scale developments tied to sports venues. Proposed projects span cities including Manchester, Birmingham, Newcastle upon Tyne, Leeds, Liverpool and London.
The government also confirmed plans for a new Sporting Events Bill, introduced to Parliament this week, aimed at simplifying the process of bidding for and hosting major events such as UEFA Euro 2028. The legislation would also criminalise the unauthorised resale of tickets for designated events.
Separately, ministers said a new cross-sector strategy for major events — covering sport, culture and business — would be published within the next year.
Former Scottish First Minister Jack McConnell has also been appointed as ministerial adviser on soft power and major events. McConnell previously played a key role in bringing the 2014 Commonwealth Games to Glasgow.
The government said the UK’s upcoming sporting calendar included the ICC Women's T20 World Cup, the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham and the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
Ministers are also backing bids for the World Athletics Championships and the 2035 FIFA Women's World Cup as part of wider plans to expand women’s sport and strengthen Britain’s international sporting profile. Photo by Vclaw, Wikimedia commons.
