Spread the Love, Spread the Risk
By Michael Weadock, August 2023
Whatever happened to the Northern Powerhouse? It was former Chancellor George Osborne’s big idea. Now it has been absorbed into levelling up. Why is this relevant to Anything but Footy – a podcast about Olympic and Paralympic sport? Well, we have spent a lot of time recently discussing the future of the Commonwealth Games. Victoria in Australia has pulled out of hosting in 2026 and now the 2030 event is also without a host after the withdrawal of Alberta in Canada. Both cited cost.
So, what is an achievable, realistic and affordable solution? Who could step up and host in 2026? On the podcast we have discussed how a pan continental approach could be the way forward. This would involve a number of countries hosting different events across one continent. Kate Sadleir, the CEO of the Commonwealth Games Federation, recently made the suggestion this could be the way of taking the Games to Africa for the first time. We also floated the idea of events being held right across the Commonwealth with a number of countries coming together. It wouldn’t feel like a traditional Games but would make for an interesting television spectacle and if the event is going to continue, we need to be open minded and potentially take a different approach.
Birmingham hosted in 2022. The UK Government has reservations about backing another English bid so soon and that is understandable. UK Sport, who essentially run and distribute the finance for elite sport in this country, may also be loathe to back another bid having been involved in Glasgow in 2014 too.
The answer could come from a number of local authorities across the north of England coming together. Existing venues need to be used and there would be no major infrastructure projects. Manchester hosted a successful event in 2002 and the newly refurbished velodrome could host track cycling whilst the Manchester Arena could host Gymnastics. Newcastle’s St James’ Park could host Rugby Sevens with the Newcastle Arena hosting Netball. Sheffield’s venues built for the 1991 University Games would be essential with Swimming and Diving at Pond’s Forge, Boxing at The Sheffield Arena and Judo at The English Institute of Sport. Further afield, Triathlon could take place around Kielder Water in Northumbria and Cycling’s Road Races could be held on the course recently used for the British Championships across Redcar and Cleveland. There are also large arenas in Leeds and Hull, plus smaller venues in Sheffield and Newcastle which regularly play host to sports like basketball. Hull’s KC Stadium once hosted international squash and why not bring hockey to Headingley in Leeds. Durham’s Riverside Stadium would be fantastic for T20 Cricket and has experience of hosting test matches in the past.
Athletics? That’s the tough one. Remember Gateshead? It would need some work. Its current capacity is similar to the Alexander Stadium prior to its conversion for Birmingham 2022. Maybe those temporary seats that shook for Elish McColgan could come to the North-East. Finding a track and field venue would be the most challenging part of the bid but Gateshead has heritage and history but would need a significant makeover. Talking of Gateshead, I’ve also thought the Sage Theatre would be a spectacular venue for weightlifting.
And, ceremonies. You know I love a ceremony. Let’s hold them at the cavernous Stadium of Light in Sunderland. Capacity 45000+. So, from South Yorkshire to Northumbria, most things are in place for a north of England Commonwealth Games. No local authority would be required to host more than a couple of sports – and all in existing venues with existing connectivity. Teams would be housed in hotels or halls of residences It’s not the most compact bid, but you can travel from Sheffield to Kielder in just over three hours by car – distances not totally unheard of when staging major multi-sport events.
So, come on Manchester, Sheffield, Leeds, Hull, Sunderland, Newcastle, Northumbria and Durham, get your leaders and your CEOs round the table and demonstrate how with your imagination, some compromises and plenty of goodwill, that the north of England can save the Commonwealth Games in 2026.
