40 elite sporting stars back Great Northern Olympics bid for 2040
Some of the country’s most decorated Olympians and Paralympians have thrown their support behind a bid for a 2040 Great North Olympic bid.
The joint statement, signed by more than 40 Olympians, Paralympians and elite athletes, has attracted support from some of Britain's most recognisable sporting names, including Dame Laura Kenny, Sir Jason Kenny, Dame Sarah Storey, Britain’s most successful Paralympian, double Olympic champion Tom Pidcock, Ed Clancy, gymnast Beth Tweddle, and Steve Cram.
Supporters of the bid, which proposes an Olympics set across several Northern cities including Leeds, Sheffield, Liverpool, Manchester and Newcastle, could bring huge opportunities and investment to the region.
Last month, the Government commissioned UK Sport to conduct an initial strategic assessment of a potential bid for both the Olympics and Paralympics in 2040.
Now, leading figures from across British sport, including Sir Brendan Foster, founder of the Great North Run, Olympic medallists Laura Weightman and Marc Scott, Paralympic medallists Susie Rodgers, Krysten Coombs and Rob Davies, and a new generation of athletes such as Paris 2024 Paralympic champion Poppy Maskill have signed a joint statement backing the bid.
Their support represents the most significant athlete backing yet for the Great North Games vision and supporters hope it will demonstrate growing momentum behind the proposal.
Last week, the Government confirmed it would begin an initial strategic assessment into the feasibility of a future Games in the North, marking the first formal step in exploring the opportunity.
The announcement comes ahead of a landmark event at the Olympic Legacy Park in Sheffield today, hosted by South Yorkshire’s Mayor Oliver Coppard and North East Mayor Kim McGuinness, where Mayor of West Yorkshire Tracy Brabin, Mayor of York and North Yorkshire David Skaith, Mayor of Hull and East Yorkshire Luke Campbell, athletes, sporting governing bodies and partners will come together to discuss the future of the North of England Olympic and Paralympic ambition.
The event will mark the first major gathering since the Government announced it would explore the feasibility and will focus on how the North can develop a credible, deliverable vision for a future bid.
In their statement, athletes describe a Northern-hosted Games as an opportunity to build on the legacy of London 2012, unite the country behind a shared ambition and showcase the very best of Great Britain to the world.
The bid may have just had a political windfall as well, with former Manchester mayor Andy Burnham previously a vocal supporter of a joint bid.
Last year, Mr Burnham said: "You look at our facilities and they're second-to-none across the North West.
"If the government really wants to rebalance the country, this could be the way to do it. I'm in."
Sir Sadiq Khan meanwhile has also said he would support a bid for the games to return to London after the success of 2012.
Elsewhere, Germany, Egypt and Italy are also understood to be preparing bids.
Any decision - either by the Government or the International Olympic Committee is likely many years away, but supporters will hope their ambition to bring the greatest sportsmen and women on the planet to the North of England may just be getting off the ground.