Politicians across the north of England have urged the UK Government to ensure that any future bids for the Olympics and Paralympics are held in ‘The North’.
The plans are set to include Sheffield as one of the host destinations for either the 2036 or 2040 Olympics.
Daniel Fletcher, Lifeguard at Ponds Forge International Sports Centre, explained how the plans would be a ‘no brainer’ and it would do nothing but benefit the community and sports scene.
He said: “I don’t think it would do anything but good.
“It would promote health and I think people would use it as an opportunity to get into sports whilst it would bring money in for regeneration.”
Ponds Forge International Sports Centre opened in 1991 to host the World Student Games, having the largest swimming pool in the country at the time.
Mr Fletcher said: “It is the central hub of sport in Sheffield though everything’s got a bit outdated and it just needs a bit more money put into it, and the Olympics would be a good opportunity for that to happen”.
Photo credits: Jason Parrish
After Sheffield hosted The World Student Games in 1992, Sheffield City Council’s debt amounted to £658 million with the council only paying it off in the 2023-24 financial year.
Mr Fletcher explained that the World Student Games wasn’t advertised as much as the Olympics is, so it lacked the excitement for non-sporty people to get involved.
“If the Olympics were to be held here, it would bring a lot more enthusiasm than the World Student Games, and do Ponds Forge justice”.
“In terms of the cost, I think it will be offset by tourists and hopefully the future sporting events that would continue after the Olympics that would cover the cost completely”.
Mia Hopkins, bartender at The Grapes pub in Sheffield, agreed the Olympics would be great for the area and the deficit it would bring would be worth the overall growth it would bring to Sheffield.
Other hosts in the Olympics bid could include cities such as Leeds and Manchester, and Mr Fletcher believes it would create a ‘level playing field’ between the North and the South.