UK Funds £7m Study for Northern England Olympics Bid — SkimNews
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- Chancellor John Healey will announce a £7m fund in his first Budget for a full feasibility study on a potential 'Northern Games' Olympic bid.
- Prime Minister Andy Burnham championed the idea, stating the Games would 'unlock opportunity' and bring the country together in northern towns and cities.
- The study will examine costs, required venues and transport, how cities could share the event, and the chances of a successful bid.
- A 2013 UKTI report estimated the London 2012 Olympics boosted the economy by £9.9bn, a figure that was met with scepticism from groups like the Federation of Small Businesses.
- The British Olympic Association, ParalympicsGB, and UK Sport welcomed the funding, stating they look forward to exploring the opportunity and its potential benefits.
Why it matters: The study commits public funds to assess a major national infrastructure and economic project. A successful bid would require massive investment in northern transport and venues, with proponents pointing to London 2012's disputed £9.9bn economic boost as a potential model for regional regeneration.
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