UK Sport has published its new major event hosting target list for the coming decade.
The list, which is accompanied by Making Live Sport Matter, a new major event strategic framework for the UK, targets 70 events in 32 sports and 18 World Championships.
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Making Live Sport Matter reflects the UK’s ambition to maintain its reputation as a world-leading host nation through securing a programme of events including the most impactful international events in women’s sport, whilst continuing to pioneer the integration of men’s and women’s events and the integration of Olympic and Paralympic sports.
The UK is already preparing to host the Women’s Rugby World Cup in 2025, the European Athletics Championships in 2026 and UEFA EURO 2028. The new list of aspirational hosting targets includes the FIFA Women’s World Cup, the biggest global sporting event the UK has never hosted, along with the Men’s Rugby World Cup, the Athletics World Championships, the Ryder Cup, the Solheim Cup and the Tour de France.
Alongside these traditional powerhouse events, the hosting target list reflects a shift in approach to explore increasingly innovative event propositions which engage as broad a range of sports fans as possible.
This includes both existing and new event properties such as the Skateboarding World Championships, the IOC’s new Olympic Qualifying Series for urban sports and the Climbing World Championships, alongside new concepts in urban, a para multi-sport and e-sport.
All events on the list are subject to a feasibility process which typically assesses venue selection, winnability, bid processes, financial contributions and costs. Additionally, every event we invest in must have social impact at its heart and deliver positive, lasting change across areas including mental health, wellbeing, employment skills and environmental sustainability.
Simon Morton, Deputy CEO and Director of Events at UK Sport said: “In the UK, millions of us choose to spend our free time watching and enjoying live sport with those that matter most to us, our friends, families and communities.
“Live sport is a fundamental part of this country’s social fabric. No other country buys more tickets per head to major sporting events than we do in the UK.
“In the years ahead, we want to host a programme of live sport that resonates with the British public and makes a difference to millions of people’s lives. That programme has to be more accessible to people and communities across the country ensuring sport reaches as many fans as possible.”
Sports Minister Stuart Andrew said: “With the UEFA Champions League final at Wembley in June, and the Women's Rugby World Cup 2025 we're building on our world leading reputation for hosting major sporting events.
"We are working closely with UK Sport and partners to fulfil our shared ambition to deliver up to seventy major events across thirty different sports to the UK in the years ahead.”