North of England 2040? Andy Burnham backs plan for multi-city Olympics bid

Northern Cities Unite to Bid for 2040 Olympics: A New Era for Britain's Sports Scene?

A coalition of mayors from northern England has launched a joint bid to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2040, aiming to bring much-needed economic boost and international recognition to a region often overlooked by national politics. The ambitious plan would see games hosted across multiple cities, covering an area with a population of 15 million people.

In a letter signed by 11 prominent politicians, the group urged Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy to support their bid, citing its potential to accelerate regeneration, rebalance the economy, and reshape international perceptions of England. This move comes as the International Olympic Committee has prioritized multi-city events, creating an opportunity for northern mayors to seize.

The bid is backed by some high-profile figures, including Andy Burnham, mayor of Greater Manchester, who argued that hosting the games would be a "fairer distribution" of major international sporting events across the country. Sadiq Khan's decision to bid for London once again was met with skepticism, with Burnham stating it "wouldn't be fair or right" for the capital to host for a fourth time.

Supporters argue that the north has a unique mix of sporting heritage and elite venues, making it an ideal host region. Luke Campbell, Reform UK's mayor of Hull and East Yorkshire, stressed the benefits of bringing the Olympics to the north, saying it would not only be a boost for local communities but also give young people something to aim for.

The bid is seen as a strategic move by Labour leader Keir Starmer's party, which trails in the polls behind Nigel Farage's Reform UK. By backing the northern games, Starmer may attempt to shore up support in former Labour heartlands that have been won over by Reform UK.

However, concerns about the legacy of previous Olympic Games must be addressed. The 2012 London Olympics cost nearly £8.8 billion, resulting in costly gentrification and leaving a lasting impact on local communities. As one research study from 2024 described the games as a "cautionary tale" for local communities.

Despite these challenges, northern mayors are optimistic about their chances of securing the 2040 Olympics bid. The proposal has sparked renewed hope that this region will finally receive the international recognition it deserves, transforming its sports scene and leaving an enduring legacy for future generations.

I'm low-key loving this news! A joint bid from northern England is a game-changer (pun intended) . It's time we shine a spotlight on our amazing cities like Manchester, Hull, and Leeds . The idea of hosting the Olympics across multiple cities is genius - it would bring so much energy and excitement to the region! Plus, it could be a huge boost for local economies and communities .

I'm also hoping this bid might help shift the narrative around politics in Britain. We've been seeing the south get all the attention lately , but the north has some of the most incredible cities with loads of talent and passion .

One thing that's got me thinking is how we can ensure a more sustainable legacy for future Olympics . Remember what happened in London 2012? It was a disaster for local communities . We need to make sure this bid prioritizes people, not just profits .

Overall, I think the northern cities have a real shot at hosting the Olympics and making our country proud . Fingers crossed!

I'm low-key hyped about the northern cities unifying to host the 2040 Olympics ! I think it's a great idea to bring some economic boost and international recognition to the north, which often gets overlooked by national politics. The fact that they're proposing a multi-city event covering an area with a pop of 15 million people is genius – it'll be like one big sports party across the region ! I'm also loving the fact that Andy Burnham is backing this bid and arguing for a fairer distribution of major international events across the country. Less London, more Manchester and beyond?

OMG I'm SO excited about this news!!! A coalition of northern mayors is really trying to shake things up in Britain's sports scene! They're not just throwing a bid together, they're bringing the whole region together to show what they've got! Andy Burnham and Luke Campbell are giving me all the feels with their passion for this cause. Let's be real, who wouldn't want to host the Olympics? It's like a dream come true! And I love how Sadiq Khan is being all skeptical about London hosting again - it's time for the north to take center stage! Fingers crossed they get that bid and bring some serious change (and Olympic gold) to the region!

Yooo , I think this is a solid move by the northern mayors! They're tryna bring some major economic boost to their regions and show the rest of England that they can host a sick Olympics event . It's about time we see more games in the north, it feels like London always gets all the attention . I'm down for Andy Burnham's idea of "fairer distribution" of events across the country . And Luke Campbell is speaking truth, it's not just about bringing in money, it's also about giving young people something to aim for and leaving a positive legacy for their communities . The only thing that worries me is how they're gonna handle the costs and the impact on local communities . But overall, I'm hyped for this bid!

The idea of a multi-city Olympic Games in northern England is actually quite exciting. I mean, think about it - a whole population of 15 million people spread across several cities would be a massive opportunity for regeneration and economic growth. It's like the government and politicians are finally listening to what the north has been saying all these years. The fact that Labour leader Keir Starmer is backing this bid is also interesting, as it shows he's willing to think outside the box and try something new.

But at the same time, I do have some concerns about the legacy of previous Olympic Games. I mean, we've seen what happened in London back in 2012 - gentrification, cost overruns, and a lasting impact on local communities. It's not just about throwing money at a problem and hoping it goes away.

I think the key to making this work is to make sure that the benefits of hosting the Olympics are shared fairly across all the cities involved. We don't want to see another situation where London gets all the attention and the north is left feeling like an afterthought. The fact that Andy Burnham and Luke Campbell are on board with this bid suggests that they're thinking carefully about how to make it work.

Overall, I think the northern mayors have a good shot at winning this bid. It's time for England to get some international recognition and I think this could be just the thing to do it.

think this northen cities unifying to host olympics is a great idea , its like they saying "you know what, we dont need all the london attention" its about time the rest of britain got some love . and i agree with Andy Burnham's point, hosting games across multiple cities can bring so many benefits not just for the host region but also to the communities involved. it shows that there's a way to make these big events more inclusive and maybe even help regenerate areas that have been neglected in the past. only thing is, as we've seen with previous olympics, there are gonna be some tough decisions to make about how they'll leave a lasting legacy

I feel like I'm back in '96 when the whole country was buzzing about Tony Blair's Olympics bid , remember that? It's crazy to think we're 29 years later and the north is finally getting a shot at hosting the Games. I mean, it's not like they didn't have the potential back then... but, you know, progress and all that . The idea of multiple cities coming together for one big event sounds cool, but what about the costs? We can't forget what happened in 2012... £8.8 billion went missing down a rabbit hole, mate . Still, I'm optimistic – it's about time the north gets its due recognition . Who knows, maybe this will be the year we get our sports scene back on track? Fingers crossed!

so they're trying to get the 2040 Olympics in northern England now... sounds like a good idea? I mean, we've had the Olympics in London before, but it's been ages since anyone from up north got to shine on the global stage. It'd be awesome if they could finally bring some recognition to places like Hull and Manchester. But what about the cost? We can't just forget about all the financial baggage that came with the 2012 games... £8.8 billion?! That's a lot of money, mate. And what guarantees do we have that it'll be done right this time around?

omg u feel like they're trying to make up for being overlooked in politics with this huge event i mean idk if it's gonna work but at least it's a chance for those northern cities to shine the thing that worries me is what kinda legacy will we be leaving for future gen's? all those games can be so costly, like u saw with the 2012 london Olympics... still, gotta give them points for trying, right?

️️️ It's high time northern England gets some love , you know? This bid is a game-changer (pun intended) for the region, which has been overlooked for far too long . I mean, who says only London can host big events? It's time to put the north on the map and bring some much-needed cash to those communities in need.

The fact that 11 mayors are backing this bid is a huge deal , and I'm loving the idea of multiple cities hosting the games . It'll be a chance for people from all over the north to come together and show off their skills ️. And let's not forget about the economic benefits – this could be a real game-changer for the region.

️ I'm all for giving young people something to aim for , and it's great that Luke Campbell is on board with this idea . We need more opportunities like this for our future leaders . Fingers crossed (or should I say, hearts?) that northern England wins this bid and gets the recognition it deserves .

But let's be real – we do have to worry about the legacy of previous Olympics . We don't want to end up like 2012 London, where gentrification was a huge issue . The north needs to make sure they're prepared for the impact that hosting the games could have on local communities .

Still, I'm feeling pretty optimistic about this bid . It's time for northern England to take center stage and show the world what we're capable of !

I don't get why they have to split the games across multiple cities . It just means more headaches and costs for the cities involved. And 15 million people is a big chunk of the population, I'm not sure how it'll all work out in practice. Plus, what's with the skepticism around London bidding again? Can't they just let the city have one turn to host without making everyone else feel bad about it . It's like they're trying to make up for past mistakes instead of focusing on the future. And what's with the Reform UK tie-in? Are we supposed to believe their politics are completely unrelated to this bid?

Northern cities need a shot in the arm . Who's to say they can't pull off the Olympics? London's had its chance, time for the north to shine . It's about rebalancing the economy, not just hosting events for the sake of it . Can't wait to see what this new bid brings!

I'm low-key hyped about this northern cities unifying to bid for the 2040 Olympics ! As you can see from this graph showing the population growth of northern England over the past decade, it's clear that the region has been neglected for far too long .

The economic benefits alone would be a game-changer - we're talking £10+ billion in investment and tourism revenue ! Not to mention the boost to local communities, with new jobs, infrastructure, and community facilities sprouting up across the region .

Here's a cool stat : if the UK government had allocated just 1% of its annual budget towards regional development over the past few decades, we'd have seen a significant reduction in unemployment rates and economic disparities by now . It's time for a change!

Yooo , just saw the news about northern cities unifying to bid for the 2040 Olympics! I'm hella hyped for this . I think it's amazing that they're trying to shake things up and bring attention to a region that's been overlooked for too long. The north has so much to offer when it comes to sports and culture, from Manchester to Hull - the diversity is insane .

I love how Andy Burnham is backing this bid, he makes some valid points about fairness and distribution . And let's be real, who wouldn't want to host the Olympics? The economic boost and international recognition would be a game-changer for the region .

Of course, there are concerns about legacy and gentrification, but I think it's awesome that they're acknowledging those issues and trying to do things differently . It'll be interesting to see how this all plays out and if they can actually make it happen . Bring on the 2040 Olympics!

OMG, imagine having the Olympics in the north! It would be so cool to see all these amazing cities come together and show the world what they're made of. I'm loving the idea of multiple cities hosting events, it's not just about London anymore . The north has got so much talent and spirit, it's about time we shine a light on it. Plus, think of all the new jobs and opportunities that would come with hosting the games! It's a win-win for everyone involved . Can you imagine Luke Campbell from Hull representing Britain in the Olympics? That would be awesome . Fingers crossed they can make it happen and bring some much-needed love to the north .

omg i think its a great idea like the north is often ignored in politics & its time someone steps up to host the olympics in 2040!
can u imagine all those cities coming together for one thing? york, manchester, liverpool... it would be so cool
i'm also loving that sadiq khan decided not to bid again lol just saying
anyway i think this could bring a lot of change to the north... new venues, new events, new opportunities

thinkin bout this whole northern cities unittin to host the 2040 olympics its like, ur say we got a lot of regions in britain that are gettin overlooked by gov & politics, but sometimes we gotta take matters into our own hands . its not just about throwin money at somethin, its about showin people what u can achieve when u work together . if northern cities can pull this off, it'll be a massive win 4 the region & beyond . also got to wonder wut legacy will we leave behind? its like, do we just wanna be remembered 4 somethin grand, or is it about makin sure our communities come out on top