The government is developing new plans to make the UK the go to
destination for hosting the biggest major sporting events in the
future including the 2035 FIFA Women's World Cup and potential
future Olympic and Ryder Cup bids.
The new plans to make the UK ‘event ready' are happening
alongside discussions about supporting potential bids for
the Ryder Cup and Solheim Cup in the 2030s, and the Olympic and
Paralympic Games in the 2040s.
As part of the plans it will also look to make it a criminal
offence to resell tickets for specific major sporting events
without authorisation, such as UEFA EURO 2028 and the 2035 FIFA
Women's World Cup, should the bid for the latter be successful.
The Government sees major sporting events as playing a key role
in driving economic growth, uniting the nation, and encouraging
people to get active.
The new changes will make it easier to bid for, secure and
deliver major sporting events in future, including UEFA EURO
2028. A new sporting events framework will allow the UK to
respond to and meet the requirements of international federations
and event owners, while cutting bureaucracy by removing the need
for bespoke protections for each and every event. The new changes
will also ensure more tickets are available to fans at face
value, rather than being snapped up by exploitative ticket touts
and resold at inflated prices.
Together, these changes will ensure the UK is event-ready –
building on its reputation as a reliable, world-class host of the
biggest and best sporting events for decades to come.
Culture Secretary said:
“Sport brings our country together like nothing else - and never
more so than when we welcome the world's biggest major
events.
“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.”
Initial work examining whether the UK could host the Olympic and
Paralympic Games for the first time since London 2012 will assess
key factors such as potential cost, socioeconomic benefit and any
bid's chance of success.
The Ryder Cup, golf's most celebrated men's team event has been
identified by UK Sport as a key target, with interest already in
the public domain from a number of potential host
locations.
Over the past decade, the UK has successfully delivered some of
the most-watched and best-loved events in sport, from the men's
and women's UEFA European Championships and Champions League
finals, to World Cups in cricket, rugby union and rugby
league.
The UK has a phenomenal pipeline of major events to look forward
to. This summer alone brings the ICC Women's T20 World Cup, the
European Athletics Championships in Birmingham and the
Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. In 2027, the Tour de France and
Tour de France Femmes Grands Départs will be the most accessible
major sporting event ever held in Great Britain. UEFA EURO 2028
is forecast to generate £3.2 billion in socioeconomic benefits -
creating jobs, driving regional growth, and drawing a surge of
international visitors to communities the length and breadth of
the country.
The Government is also backing bids to host the World Athletics
and Para-Athletics Championships in 2029, as well as the 2035
FIFA Women's World Cup, which is part of its commitment to
driving a decade of change in women's sport that is already well
underway.
Alongside more than £500 million invested in the delivery of
major sporting events, the Government is making a serious and
sustained commitment to grassroots sport. At least £400 million
is being invested in community facilities across the country,
ensuring that the legacy of every major event is felt far and
wide.
