Northern England is set to throw its hat into the ring for the 2040 Olympics, with a multi-city bid gaining momentum. The region's leaders are pushing for a fresh take on the global sporting spectacle, arguing that hosting events in just one city has led to feelings of exclusion among northern communities.
The call comes as London mayor Sadiq Khan previously expressed interest in bidding for the 2024 Games, which would mark nearly three decades since the capital last hosted. However, Andy Burnham, Greater Manchester's mayor, believes it "wouldn't be fair or right" for London to host for a fourth time, saying instead that a northern bid is what Britain needs.
The bid has been welcomed by Sir Brendan Foster, a former 3,000m world record holder and founder of the Great North Run. He argues that hosting international sporting events across the country should be guided by a principle of fairness, rather than concentrating on just one city. "When the government is financing hosting global sporting events, they should have a balanced national approach," Foster said.
A coalition of 11 northern mayors has written to culture secretary Lisa Nandy urging her to back the bid. They claim it would be a "once-in-a-generation opportunity" to drive regeneration, rebalance the economy, and reset international perceptions of England.
The move is seen as a strategic attempt by the Labour party to strengthen its grip on northern voters, who have historically been crucial in swinging elections. Reform UK's Luke Campbell, who represents Hull and East Yorkshire, believes hosting the Olympics in the north would be a "proud moment" for the region, not just about sport but also about giving young people opportunities.
The Liverpool city region mayor, Steve Rotheram, echoes this sentiment, saying that a northern games would bring the Olympics to ordinary communities that have often felt left out of the national story. The bid is gaining traction as the International Olympic Committee prioritizes multi-city events.
While no official decision has been made yet, Nandy's department refused to comment on whether it would back the bid, citing the British Olympic Association as responsible for making such decisions. Nonetheless, with its robust sporting heritage and elite venues, the north of England appears to be in contention for a 2040 Games that could redefine the nation's approach to hosting major international events.
The call comes as London mayor Sadiq Khan previously expressed interest in bidding for the 2024 Games, which would mark nearly three decades since the capital last hosted. However, Andy Burnham, Greater Manchester's mayor, believes it "wouldn't be fair or right" for London to host for a fourth time, saying instead that a northern bid is what Britain needs.
The bid has been welcomed by Sir Brendan Foster, a former 3,000m world record holder and founder of the Great North Run. He argues that hosting international sporting events across the country should be guided by a principle of fairness, rather than concentrating on just one city. "When the government is financing hosting global sporting events, they should have a balanced national approach," Foster said.
A coalition of 11 northern mayors has written to culture secretary Lisa Nandy urging her to back the bid. They claim it would be a "once-in-a-generation opportunity" to drive regeneration, rebalance the economy, and reset international perceptions of England.
The move is seen as a strategic attempt by the Labour party to strengthen its grip on northern voters, who have historically been crucial in swinging elections. Reform UK's Luke Campbell, who represents Hull and East Yorkshire, believes hosting the Olympics in the north would be a "proud moment" for the region, not just about sport but also about giving young people opportunities.
The Liverpool city region mayor, Steve Rotheram, echoes this sentiment, saying that a northern games would bring the Olympics to ordinary communities that have often felt left out of the national story. The bid is gaining traction as the International Olympic Committee prioritizes multi-city events.
While no official decision has been made yet, Nandy's department refused to comment on whether it would back the bid, citing the British Olympic Association as responsible for making such decisions. Nonetheless, with its robust sporting heritage and elite venues, the north of England appears to be in contention for a 2040 Games that could redefine the nation's approach to hosting major international events.
Northern england is like finally throwin its hat into the ring for the 2040 olympics 
they wanna host it in multiple cities instead of just one city coz its a total shame how people from up north feel excluded lol idk about london bidin again tho sadiq khan already expressed interest in 2024 and now andy burnham is all like its not fair or right for london 2 host 4th time
but i cant deny its gonna b a proud moment 4 northern england if they get it 
, but it's definitely about time we got a fresh spin on things. One city does feel like a bit of an exclusive club, and I can see why northern leaders want to shake things up. But let's be real, the Olympics are massive events that require a tonne of planning and resources – it's not just about throwing a hat into the ring 
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. And who knows, maybe it'll be a chance for some of those smaller communities to shine on the international stage? That'd be pretty cool 
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. What are the real reasons behind this bid, and what's going to happen once they've got it? We shouldn't just jump on the bandwagon without thinking about the bigger picture 
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! I remember when Manchester hosted the Commonwealth Games back in '08, it was a huge deal up north and brought in so much tourism. Now, with a multi-city bid, it's like the whole of Northern England is joinin' forces to show the world what we're made of 
. I think it's a solid move by Labour, too – gettin' northern voters on board is key, especially when you've been out of power for so long. Fingers crossed they make a good bid and we end up hostin' the Olympics in '40! 
. Let's get behind this bid and make it happen! 
. All these years London's been hogging all the attention and hosting gigs, it's high time we step up our game. Hosting the Olympics across multiple cities would not only bring in some serious cash 
but also give communities a chance to shine. It's all about fairness, right? I mean, why should just one city get all the glory? The north has so much to offer – from the beautiful Lake District to the vibrant streets of Manchester 
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. I'm all for this multi-city bid – bring on the Olympics! 
I'm loving the idea of having the Olympics spread across Northern England - it's long overdue! But, can we be real? The logistics and costs are gonna be HUGE 
. What if they could make this work without breaking the bank? That'd be something to cheer about 
. If they can make it work across multiple cities, it'll be awesome for the region and give more people a chance to experience the Games 
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. Will the IOC actually go for a multi-city bid? And what does it mean for the rest of the country if Northern England gets the Games? 
. I'm loving how Andy Burnham and Steve Rotheram are pushing for this idea, it shows they're thinking outside the box (or in this case, the stadium 
). It's a great move by the Labour party to win over northern voters too, and who can blame them? 
We need more inclusive events that benefit the entire region, not just one city. Bring on the 2040 Olympics! 
. Plus, think of all the regeneration and economic boost that comes with hosting such an event! It's not just about sports, it's about giving young people in these areas some real opportunities 
another olympics is just around the corner... Northern England thinks they can do better than London, but let's be real, it's gonna be super expensive and most people won't even get to attend. They're trying to spin it as "fairness" but really it's just a power grab by the Labour party to control northern voters. 
like steve rotheram said it would be a proud moment for the region not just about the sport but also about giving kids opportunities 
we need to see more regional events happening in britain 
And it's not just about sport - it could bring a lot of economic benefits and regeneration to the region. Plus, it would be an amazing opportunity for young people in Northern England to get involved and make their mark on the world! 
. I'm loving the vibe of this multi-city bid – it's all about fairness and giving everyone a chance to shine 
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I'm all for a multi-city bid, it's not just about London getting another opportunity (don't get me wrong, they deserve it too 
. Bring it on, Olympics 2040! Let's make this happen! 
. Let's make this happen!