London 2040 - UK government considering new Olympic Games bid as part of bold plans

The UK government is considering the possibility of bidding to host both the Olympics and Paralympics in the 2040s.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has unveiled bold plans to make the UK the “go-to destination” for sport over the next two decades.

It is understood that initial work will evaluate whether the United Kingdom could host the games for the first time since London 2012, with consideration over the potential cost, the socio-economic benefit and the chance of mounting a successful bid.

There has been growing momentum over a possible Olympics bid in recent months, and last year, London mayor Sadiq Khan said he wanted the city to bid for the 2040 Games.

It has already been decided that Los Angeles will host the 2028 Games, with Brisbane set to host the 2032 edition. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is yet to choose host cities to stage the events in 2036 and beyond. The four-year schedule of the global sporting event would leave 2040, 2044 and 2048 all viable options for the UK as part of new plans.

United Kingdom aims to become “go-to destination”

Interest in a potential Olympic Games bid comes as part of a wider strategy from the DCMS for the United Kingdom to become a key host nation for all major sports.

The UK have already launched a joint bid to host the 2035 Women's World Cup, while a bid was also launched for the 2035 Ryder Cup to be hosted in Bolton. The UK has not hosted the major golf event since 2014 and there is also interest in hosting the Solheim Cup as well.

England, Scotland and Wales will co-host Euro 2028 with the Republic of Ireland, while the Women’s T20 World Cup, European Athletics Championships and Commonwealth Games will all be held in the United Kingdom later this year.

“Sport brings our country together like nothing else - and never more so than when we welcome the world’s biggest major events,” said the Culture Secretary, Lisa Nandy.

“From London 2012 right through to the record-breaking Women’s Rugby World Cup we hosted last summer, we’ve proven ourselves to be outstanding hosts time and time again.

“This Government is committed and ambitious. We want to continue attracting the most prestigious events in sport so that people all over the country can enjoy the whole range of economic and social benefits they bring for generations to come, showing the best of Britain to the world.”