UK government pledges to spend £900m on major sporting events and grassroots facilities

The government has pledged to spend £900m on major sporting events and grassroots facilities across the UK as part of a "transformational" investment.

More than £0.5bn of the money will be used to support the delivery of "a pipeline of major international events", including Euro 2028, which will be hosted in the UK and Ireland.

The 2026 European Athletics Championships in Birmingham and the Grand Departs of the men's and women's Tour de France cycling races in 2027 will also benefit.

All those events had already received government backing, along with a proposed UK bid to host the women's football World Cup in 2035, which the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) is continuing to work on with the home nations football associations.

However, the government is yet to decide whether to support London's bid to host the 2029 World Athletics Championships, with more than 100 of Britain's most renowned athletes urging Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to do so earlier this month.

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said: "Sport tells our national story in a way few other things can – uniting communities, inspiring millions, and showcasing our nation on the global stage.

"This major backing for world-class events will drive economic growth across the country. Coupled with strong investment into grassroots sport, we're creating a complete pathway to allow the next generation of sporting heroes to train and take part in sport in communities across the UK. "

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