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Durham athletes back North of England Olympic Games ambition

23 June 2026
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Lauren Irwin is pictured at Durham riverside on a recent visit to the University's boat club

Five Durham Olympic and Paralympic athletes, alongside our Head of Rowing, are backing a vision to hold a future Olympic and Paralympic Games in the North of England.

They are part of a wider coalition of more than 40 Olympians, Paralympians and elite athletes who have signed up to a joint statement endorsing the ambition.  

In their statement, the athletes say a Northern-hosted Games is an opportunity to build on the legacy of London 2012, unite the country behind a shared ambition and showcase the very best of Great Britain to the world.

Durham’s sporting talent

Each of the Durham athletes has competed at the highest level of international sport, including the Olympic or Paralympic Games.

Collectively, they reflect the University’s development of and support for world-class athletes, as well as the depth of sporting pathways in the North of England.

They are:

  • Will Fletcher - Rowing, Rio 2016 (Head of Rowing)
  • Sophie Hosking MBE - Rowing (Gold) London 2012 (Trevelyan College, BSc Natural Sciences, 2004-2007)
  • Tess Howard MBE - Hockey, Paris 2024 (University College, BA Geography, 2017-2022)
  • Lauren Irwin - Rowing (Bronze) Paris 2024 (St Hild and St Bede, BA Sport Health and Exercise, 2016-2019)
  • Louisa Reeve - Rowing, Beijing 2008 and London 2012 (Hatfield University, BSc Natural Sciences, 2003-2006)
  • Lily van den Broecke MBE - Para-rowing (Gold) London 2012 (University College, BA Philosophy, Politics and Economics, 2011-2014)

They are joined by Britain’s most recognisable sporting figures, including Dame Laura Kenny, Sir Jason Kenny and Dame Sarah Storey, Britain’s most successful Paralympian, double Olympic champion Tom Pidcock, Ed Clancy, gymnast Beth Tweddle, Steve Cram and Sir Brendan Foster, founder of the Great North Run.

A shared ambition

The joint statement, published today, Tuesday 23 June, begins:

“As Olympians, Paralympians, athletes and competitors who have had the honour of representing Great Britain and competing on the highest stage, we write to express our strong and united support for the North of England to host a future Olympic and Paralympic Games.

“The legacy of the London 2012 Summer Olympics and Paralympics showed what is possible when the country comes together behind a shared ambition. Now is the moment to build on that legacy.

It concludes:

“We believe that hosting a Games in the North of England in 2040 would be a moment of renewal and confidence for the entire United Kingdom.

“We are proud to add our voices to this vision and to support a Northern Games that would inspire generations to come.”

The joint statement is published ahead of an event at the Olympic Legacy Park in Sheffield to discuss the future of the North of England Olympic and Paralympic ambition.

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