The Chancellor, John Healey, will use Wednesday's Budget to announce £7m for a full feasibility study into an Olympic and Paralympic bid across northern England, according to several outlets including the Yorkshire Post. The Treasury has not yet confirmed the measure on the record.
According to Zetik, the study will look at venue and transport needs, how several cities might share events, community benefits, likely costs and the chances of winning. The target is a Games in the 2040s.
Zetik reports that UK Sport, the government, northern mayors and the British Olympic and Paralympic bodies will run the work. It follows an initial assessment commissioned in May.
Manchester City Council has welcomed the funding, Brit Brief reports.
Zetik also notes that the reported £9.9bn economic boost from London 2012 was later questioned by some business and research groups. That figure has not been independently checked.