40+ Olympic Champions Back North England Games Bid

Some of Britain's greatest athletes are uniting behind a dream that could transform an entire region and inspire millions.

More than 40 Olympic and Paralympic champions have signed a joint statement supporting a bid to bring a future Olympic and Paralympic Games to the North of England. The list reads like a who's who of British sport: Dame Laura Kenny, Sir Jason Kenny, Dame Sarah Storey (Britain's most successful Paralympian), double Olympic champion Tom Pidcock, gymnast Beth Tweddle, and running legend Steve Cram.

They're joined by Sir Brendan Foster, founder of the Great North Run, and rising stars like Paris 2024 Paralympic champion Poppy Maskill. Together, they represent generations of sporting excellence backing what they call a "Great North Games."

The timing couldn't be better. Last week, the government confirmed it would begin formally exploring whether the North could host a future Olympics and Paralympics. It's the first official step toward making the vision real.

The proposal would spread events across Northern England's existing world-class venues. Northern mayors from South Yorkshire, the North East, West Yorkshire, York, and Hull have already called on the government to seriously consider the opportunity.

Athletes gathered this week at Sheffield's Olympic Legacy Park (built after London 2012) to discuss how to turn ambition into reality. North East Mayor Kim McGuinness and South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard hosted the landmark event, bringing together sporting bodies, government officials, and community leaders.

The Ripple Effect

The athletes see this as far more than a sporting event. Their statement describes a Northern Games as "a moment of renewal and confidence for the entire United Kingdom" that would "bring the country together in common purpose."

The vision includes creating the largest civic volunteering movement ever seen around a UK Games. Organizers want to inspire millions into sport and community action while accelerating investment in transport, regeneration, and public spaces across Northern communities.

Mayor Coppard emphasized the broader impact: "A Great North Games would be about more than just sport. It would be a catalyst for opportunity, for investment and for inspiring the next generation of athletes."

The athletes highlight what makes the North special: world-class venues already in place, experienced event hosts, and what they call an "unrivalled passion for sport." They believe these ingredients could create a Games that showcases the very best of Great Britain while leaving lasting benefits for communities that need them most.

The proposed target year is 2040, giving planners time to develop what athletes call "a credible, deliverable vision" that builds on the legacy of London 2012.

A generation of young athletes across Northern England now has something extraordinary to dream about.