Paris put on a show for the world to see and as far as we can see, there’s no reason why Manchester and Greater Manchester couldn’t do the same. They have of course tried before, bidding to host the games in 1996 and 2000 only to lose out to Atlanta and Sydney respectively. Of course, the world of sport did come to Manchester with the Commonwealth Games shortly after in 2002.
With that in mind we’ve taken a look back at the venues that were to be used back in 2000 and imagined how things might look in 2036 and 2040 which are the next Olympics without a host. Los Angeles will host in 2028 and Brisbane, Australia in 2032.
It’s time for Manchester to host the greatest show on earth.
9. The Velodrome
As in the case with swimming, Manchester already has an incredible facility to host the cycling. | Manchester City Council
10. Rowing at Pennington Flash
The rowing in 2000 was planned for an extended lake at Pennington Flash near Leigh. We'd love to have in down the canals, but this might still be the best option. Photo: Photographer Michelle Adamson
11. Skateboarding at Aviva Studios
One of the more popular Olympic sports has an ideal venue in Manchester. Aviva Studios recently held a 12-day skateboarding event in conjunction with adidas, so seem well set up. | Getty Images
12. Old Trafford
Would host the cricket of course - which is entering the games in 2028. It was down to host baseball, then part of the Olympics, back in the year 2000. | AFP via Getty Images