Any Northern Games legacy ‘should benefit our communities’
Hull and East Yorkshire Mayor Luke Campbell has welcomed Government backing for the next stage of a potential Northern Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Mr Campbell added that the events should leave a legacy reaching communities across Hull and East Yorkshire.
Fourteen years after bringing Olympic gold home to Hull, Mr Campbell is helping champion an ambition that could one day see the Olympic and Paralympic Games hosted across the North of England.
The vision has taken a significant step forward after the Government announced £7 million for UK Sport to carry out a full feasibility study into hosting the Games across Northern England in the 2040s.
The announcement follows a joint call from Northern mayors and leaders through The Great North, including Mr Campbell, for any future UK bid to be anchored in the North. It moves the idea from an exciting possibility towards a detailed examination of what it would take to deliver.
Mr Campbell said: “Winning gold at London 2012 changed my life. But that journey started as a kid from Hull with a dream. I know what sport can do for your confidence and for the opportunities you believe are possible.
“Imagine a young person growing up in the area getting to see the best athletes in the world compete across the North. That might be the moment they decide to join a club, give a sport a go or aim for something they never thought they could achieve.
“I’m proud to be working with other Northern mayors and leaders to get this idea taken seriously. It’s a huge ambition, so we’ve got to do it properly. The £7 million is for a study, not a decision to host the games. We need to understand the costs and make sure the benefits would reach ordinary people.”
For Hull and East Yorkshire, the opportunity is not simply about whether an Olympic or Paralympic event could take place locally. A Games spread across the North could provide a focus for better sporting opportunities, stronger visitor economies, volunteering, investment in places and improved transport connections.
Mr Campbell said what happens after the games would be just as important as the event itself.
He said: “For me, the real win wouldn’t just be those few weeks of sport. It would be better facilities, more opportunities for young people, improved connections and investment that makes a difference long after the last medal has been won. That’s a legacy worth aiming for.”