Plan for Northern Olympics to get £7m in Healey's Budget
The UK government plans to allocate £7 million in the upcoming Budget for a feasibility study on hosting a 'Northern Games' Olympics in the 2040s. The initiative is backed by Northern mayors and former athletes to boost regional development.
Why it matters
This represents a significant long-term infrastructure and economic development strategy aimed at decentralizing major sporting events away from London.
Image source, PA Media Image caption, Team GB at the opening ceremony of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris
Presenter, Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg Published 30 minutes ago A £7m fund to explore how the Olympics could be brought to northern England will be announced in John Healey's first Budget on Wednesday, the BBC has learned.
The chancellor plans to allocate the money for a full feasibility study on the possibility for a bid for a "Northern Games".
If successful, it could see the games held in the North in the 2040s.
The last time the UK hosted the Olympics was London 2012. A UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) department report estimated in 2013 it boosted the economy by £9.9bn, although the amount was met with some scepticism.
Olympians join mayors to back northern Olympic bid
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