Great North sets out Olympic ambition

A coalition of northern mayors and regional leaders is calling on the Government to back a future Olympic and Paralympic Games bid rooted outside London, arguing the region is ready to host an event of global scale.

The Great North has written to Lisa Nandy, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, calling for any future UK Olympic and Paralympic bid to be anchored in the North. 

The proposal also urges a fairer distribution of sporting and cultural events across the country.

Chair of The Great North and North East mayor Kim McGuinness said: “The North of England has a sporting history and prowess like no other place, and we are united in our belief that our region could host a box office, world-leading Olympic Games.

“Bringing the Olympics to the UK would unite the North and the whole nation, bringing people together and unleashing a groundswell of pride in our places. 

“The Olympics create a legacy like no other, with game-changing investment in jobs, regeneration and transport, creating opportunity for people across the North.

“As mayors and leaders we are ready to deliver, now we need national Government and sporting bodies to match our ambition: The Olympics would be our moment for the North to stand tall on the international stage.”

The letter sets out the North’s case as a credible and timely opportunity, highlighting the International Olympic Committee’s growing support for multi-city and region-wide Games. 

Leaders argue this shift creates an opening for a Northern-led bid that reflects how international events are now being planned and delivered.

Tees Valley mayor Ben Houchen added: “Our region is a real hotbed of sporting excellence and would be an outstanding location for the Olympic and Paralympics Games.

“We’ve already shown what we can do on the world stage by successfully hosting major international events like the Tour of Britain and the Rugby League World Cup.

“Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool have delivered world-class events and with our passion, talent and proven track record, we have everything needed to bring the Olympic and Paralympic Games to the north of England – and to do it properly.”

Tracy Brabin, mayor of West Yorkshire, added: “A Northern Olympics would help us showcase our sporting prowess and proud record of producing champions.

“It would be a real catalyst for investment, jobs, opportunity, and true national renewal.

“We have the venues, we have the talent, and we have the ambition - let’s bring the Olympics to the North and prove that when we’re backed, we deliver.”

Supporters point to the region’s existing infrastructure, including elite sporting venues, stadia and arenas, established transport hubs, accommodation capacity and strong broadcast and creative capabilities. 

The North has a long track record of delivering large-scale global events, spanning international football tournaments, world championships, road races such as the Great North Run, the world’s biggest half marathon, as well as flagship mass participation events.

The region is also positioned as a cultural powerhouse, having hosted nationally significant moments such as UK City of Culture programmes, major music and arts awards, and high-profile international broadcasts. 

Officials argue this cultural depth strengthens the case for a Games that goes beyond sport and delivers a broader international showcase.

Sir Brendan Foster CBE, founder of the Great North Run, who hails from Hebburn, in County Durham, and won a bronze medal in 10,000 metres at the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal, added: “I wholeheartedly support the mayors’ ambition for the North of England. 

“However, this is about more than an Olympic bid. 

“It's about delivering a fairer distribution of major international sporting events across the country.

“Obviously iconic sporting occasions like Wimbledon, Royal Ascot, Lords Test matches and the London Marathon, are rightly celebrated in the nation’s capital, but when the government is financing hosting global sporting events, they should have a balanced national approach as their guiding principle.

“The North of England should play a central role in hosting world and European level football, rugby, cricket and multi-sport events, and should clearly have a strong presence at the decision-making table.

“That is only fair and represents the significant interest and contribution the North has always and will always make to British sport.”

Northern leaders believe a Games anchored in the North would act as a catalyst for long-term regeneration and economic rebalancing, accelerating investment in transport, housing, skills, grassroots sport and cultural infrastructure. 

They argue the benefits would extend well beyond the Games themselves, helping to reset global perceptions of England and drive sustained growth across communities.

South Yorkshire’s mayor Oliver Coppard added: “South Yorkshire has a long, indelible sporting heritage. 

“We’ve been at the centre of global sport for generations. Sheffield is the home of football, where the original rules were written, and for 50 years we’ve proudly hosted the World Snooker Championships. 

“We don’t just take part in global sport; we help shape it.

“From Seb Coe to Prince Naseem Hamed to Dorothy Hyman to Kevin Keegan to Jess Ennis-Hill, we’ve given the world some of the world’s biggest and best sporting success stories and most exciting moments. 

“With the English Institute of Sport, the Olympic Legacy Park and Ponds Forge right at the heart of our region, we have world‑class facilities that define the success of athletes today and inspire the next generation to dream bigger tomorrow.

“And now we’re ready to welcome the world; and to make sure the benefits of hosting the Olympic Games are felt in every corner of our communities – leaving a lasting legacy of better health, happier, more active children and young people, and a region more confident in our own future. 

“It’s about restoring the pride, purpose and prosperity of South Yorkshire, and showing the world what the North and the UK can achieve.”

Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham added: “Hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Games would be a defining moment for the North and we are confident our bid would make for a compelling proposition. 

“Much of the infrastructure is already in place, our facilities are second-to-none, and we have a track record of hosting major global events.

“It would also be a powerful opportunity to unlock future growth, building on the North’s existing strengths and accelerating investment. 

“For Greater Manchester, the 2002 Commonwealth Games marked a real turning point. It sparked transformative regeneration and economic growth, changing how people felt about our city region and how the world viewed us.

"An Olympic and Paralympic Games would deliver a similar impact on a much bigger scale, through long-term investment which transforms our region and leaves a legacy far beyond the Games.”

The letter asks the Government to agree in principle to a Northern-based bid, support proportionate feasibility and preparatory work, and align early on clear legacy objectives. 

Central to the proposal is a commitment to ensure long-term benefits for Northern communities and a wider redistribution of major events as drivers of jobs, regeneration and visitor growth.

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