STORY
The Government has commissioned UK Sport to assess whether the UK could bid to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games in the North of England in the 2040s. Ministers said the initial strategic assessment would examine costs, likely benefits and the chances of a successful bid.
The proposal is being considered alongside a wider push to use major sporting events and stadium regeneration to support economic growth. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport said the work would explore whether hosting the Games could deliver major regeneration and wider benefits for northern towns and cities.
London has hosted the Olympic Games three times, most recently in 2012, but no other part of the UK has staged the event. The assessment does not amount to a formal bid, but it marks the first step in considering whether a future Games could be used as part of a long-term regional growth strategy.