A £7 million fund to investigate the possibility of bringing the Olympic Games to northern England will be announced in Chancellor John Healey's upcoming Budget, the BBC has learned. The funding is earmarked for a comprehensive feasibility study to assess the viability of a bid for a "Northern Games," which could see the event hosted in the region in the 2040s. This initiative represents a significant step towards potentially repeating the UK's Olympic hosting success, with London having last hosted the Games in 2012.

The proposal for a Northern Games has been championed by Northern Mayors and supported by prominent former Olympians, including Dame Laura Kenny and Dame Sarah Storey. Prime Minister Andy Burnham expressed his enthusiasm, stating that the Olympics have a unique ability to unite the country and that he wants communities to experience this excitement directly. He believes such an event would unlock opportunities across northern towns and cities, fostering national pride.

This planned feasibility study follows an initial assessment commissioned by the government in May, which was carried out by UK Sport. That initial review examined the potential costs and benefits associated with hosting the Olympics across the North. The forthcoming study will delve deeper into the practicalities, considering venue requirements, necessary transport infrastructure, and how different cities might collaborate to host the Games. A crucial aspect will be assessing the potential costs and the likelihood of a bid's success.

The financial implications of hosting major sporting events are a key consideration, drawing on past experiences. The Conservative-Lib Dem coalition government estimated the cost of the London 2012 Olympics at £8.9 billion. While a 2013 UK Trade and Investment report suggested the Games boosted the economy by £9.9 billion through new contracts, sales, and foreign investments, these figures faced some skepticism from organizations like the Federation of Small Businesses and the National Institute of Economic and Social Research.

Chancellor John Healey emphasized the lasting legacy of Olympic events, stating that the North hosting such a large-scale event would be "truly unforgettable." He pointed to Britain's experience with London 2012 as proof of its capability to host global events and expressed a commitment to accelerating efforts toward a potential bid. Healey anticipates that hosting the Games would invigorate communities, generate opportunities, and provide a substantial boost to the UK economy.

The British Olympic Association, ParalympicsGB, and UK Sport have welcomed the government's commitment to exploring the Northern Games concept. They view this funding as a positive development that supports the continued assessment of a bid's potential. The collaborative nature of the feasibility study, involving government, UK Sport, Northern Mayors, and the British Olympic and Paralympic associations, underscores the broad support for the initiative.

Further details regarding the scope and timeline of the feasibility study are expected to be released following the Budget announcement. The study's findings will be critical in determining the next steps for a potential bid and will provide a clearer picture of the economic, social, and infrastructural requirements for hosting the Olympics in northern England.

Questions remain about the precise distribution of the £7 million funding and the specific metrics that will be used to evaluate the success or failure of a potential bid. The economic forecasts from previous Olympic Games, such as London 2012, will likely serve as a benchmark, but the unique regional context of northern England will also be a significant factor in the study's analysis.