Leaders across the North should throw their weight behind the Olympic bid
Securing the Olympic games is a major feather in any city or region’s cap, regardless of where it is in the world. It goes beyond just the sporting spectacle that unfolds over a fortnight in the summer. The whole world’s eyes are fixed on the host. People from all corners of the globe descend on it.
The Olympics is just as much about the economy and social impact as it is about sport.
That is why every politician in the North should be getting their weight behind the bid to bring the Olympic games to the region.
The benefits of such a sporting spectacle cannot be underestimated. London was given a major boost hosting the 2012 games. In fact, the benefits rippled out across the country.
This is an opportunity for Britain to show the world that it is more than just London, as great a city as it is. If anything, there’s no reason why the capital cannot benefit from the ripple effect of the games being hosted in the North.
The fact that the region’s Mayors came together to discuss how the North of England can develop a credible vision for a future Olympic and Paralympic Games is a positive sign. Working together on such grand ambitions is the way forward. It gives the region a powerful voice.
With Manchester United Football Club securing land for a new 100,000 seater stadium and further investment in infrastructure across the North could provide the perfect stage for the game.
The challenge will be bringing it all together and funding such an ambitious project. The London games weren’t without criticism. There are question marks over the legacy that it left behind.
This is still too good of an opportunity to not get behind. The Tour de France provided a glimpse of just how welcoming Yorkshire and the North of England can be for major sporting events.