Sadiq Khan Eyes 2040 Olympics as London Pushes to Become the ‘Sporting Capital of the World’

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has declared his ambition for the capital to host the Olympic Games in 2040, setting the stage for London to become the first city in history to host the prestigious event four times.

The renewed Olympic vision follows the release of a new report from the Mayor’s Office, which outlines the substantial economic benefits of staging major international sporting events. In 2023 alone, six headline events — including the UEFA Champions League final and NFL fixtures — generated a combined £230 million for the city.

With London having successfully hosted the Olympic Games in 1908, 1948 and most recently in 2012, Khan believes the city is uniquely positioned to deliver a cost-effective and world-class Games by leveraging its existing infrastructure, such as the London Stadium, the Aquatics Centre, and the Velodrome.

“We could knock it out of the park in relation to the Olympics,” Khan said in an interview with The Times. “Using the assets we already have, and spreading some events outside of London, the city could act as a hub. We could do it brilliantly — and cheaply.”

The Mayor is also backing a bid to host the World Athletics Championships in 2029, which is projected to bring in £400 million to the capital. He sees it as both an economic opportunity and a pathway to inspire the next generation of athletes, referencing icons like Mo Farah and Paula Radcliffe.

“When it comes to major sports events, the public and governments are not unreasonably nervous about spending on infrastructure. But the reason 2040 makes sense for London is because the city is already equipped to host in an efficient and sustainable way,” Khan added.

The long-term vision reinforces London’s growing status as a global destination for elite sporting events — a position Khan hopes will eventually make it the “sporting capital of the world.”