Northern Leaders Call on Government to Base Future UK Olympic Bid in the North

Could the North of England could play host to the Olympic and Paralympic Games for the first time? Northern mayors and leaders today set out a clear proposition for a future UK bid to be anchored in the North of England.

The Great North – a collaboration of mayors and leaders across the North – has written a joint letter to the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Lisa Nandy, calling on Government to commit in principle that any future UK Olympic and Paralympic bid is based in the North and for a fairer redistribution of major events across the country. 

The North already has many of the foundations in place to deliver a world-class Games, including elite sporting venues, major stadia and arenas, established transport hubs, accommodation capacity, and world-class broadcast and creative capability.

The call comes following a call from the Heseltine Institute for the North of England to host a multi-city games, citing the International Olympic Committee (IOC)’s growing support for multi-city, region-wide bids, making a Northern England Games both credible and timely.  

The group say that the case for the North of England is compelling adding that the International Olympic Committee’s clear move towards multi-city and region-wide Games creates "a moment of opportunity that the UK should not miss".

They say the region has a proven track record of hosting celebrated global events, from the Commonwealth Games in Manchester, the EURO 2028 football championships, the Great North Run, Rugby League World Cups, The Open, Ashes Tests, the Grand National, and major football tournaments. The Tour de France will be hosted in Cumbria, Liverpool City Region and Yorkshire in 2027, while the World Snooker Championships in Sheffield is a regular feature in the North’s sporting calendar.

The Mayors say that the North is already a sporting and creative powerhouse has a strong and proven cultural pedigree and a track record of delivering major culture events at scale, being home to the Hull UK City of Culture in 2017 and Bradford in 2025, hosting the Eurovision Song Contest in Liverpool, and major cultural showcases including the MOBO Awards, Turner Prize, MTV European Music Awards and the BRITs.

Northern mayors and leaders believe a Games anchored in the North would represent a once-in-a-generation opportunity to accelerate regeneration, rebalance the economy, and reset international perceptions of England. It could act as a catalyst for long-term investment in transport, skills, housing, grassroots sport and cultural infrastructure, with benefits lasting well beyond the closing ceremony.

Luke Campbell MBE, Mayor of Hull and East Yorkshire, is a former Olympian, he said: 

“Winning gold at London 2012 is one of the proudest moments of my life. The whole country came together as one, and it meant everything to me to represent our nation on the world stage – and show that someone from Hull can go all the way.

“Bringing the Olympics to the North isn’t just about sport. It’s about giving our kids something to aim for, creating real opportunities and showing the world what this part of the country has to offer.

“Here in Hull and East Yorkshire, sport is a big part of who we are. Our communities turn out in their thousands to back their clubs, and I’m confident we’ve got the passion, the grit and the creativity to make this bid a real success.”

In the letter, mayors and leaders have asked government to -

• agree in principle that any future UK Olympic and Paralympic bid is anchored in the North of England
• support proportionate feasibility and preparatory work in partnership with Northern mayors and leaders
• align early on the legacy objectives of any bid, ensuring long-term benefit for Northern communities, including a plan to redistribute more major events to the North as a catalyst for jobs, regeneration and attracting more visitors

The mayors and leaders of The Great North say they stand ready to "work with Government to shape a proposal that is credible, deliverable and transformative – not just for the North, but for the country as a whole".