Should the Olympic and Paralympic Games come to the North of England?

Sprinters crouch at the start line, the stadium falls silent. Then bang! They’re off. Thousands of people leap to their feet, flags wave, and the noise erupts in a wave of excitement.

This is what it feels like to watch the Olympic Games, live in person. Full of moments people remember forever.

Now, leaders across the North of England want to bring the Olympic and Paralympic Games, the world's greatest athletes, and the excitement they create, to cities and communities across the region.

The Olympic and Paralympic Games are international sports competitions held every four years, where thousands of athletes compete. The UK last hosted them in London – possibly before you were born - in 2012.

Mayors and council leaders say the North of England has a strong case to host the Games. They believe it would be fairer than always holding huge events in the same places, and could bring long-lasting benefits to communities.

Writing together as part of the Great North partnership, the 11 leaders asked Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy to support a future bid that is "anchored in the North of England".

The northern leaders say their region is ready because it already has big sports venues, good transport links, places for visitors to stay, and strong TV and creative industries to broadcast the Games to the world.

Luke Campbell, a former Olympic boxing champion who is now Mayor of Hull and East Yorkshire, said winning gold at London 2012 was "one of the proudest moments of my life". He added: "Bringing the Olympics to the North isn't just about sport… It's about giving our kids something to aim for."

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham said he was "confident our bid would make for a compelling proposition", pointing to existing facilities and experience of hosting big events.

"A Games rooted in the North would be a once-in-a-lifetime chance to bring the Olympics closer to ordinary communities that have too often felt like they've been left out of the national story," added Steve Rotheram, mayor of the Liverpool City Region.

In their letter the northern leaders asked for the government to "agree in principle" to any future bid.

The government says it supports major sporting events, but any Olympic bid would be decided by the British Olympic Association, not politicians.