No plans for U.K. to host men's World Cup, Olympics

The U.K. wants to host the Women’s World Cup and the Ryder Cup "within the next 15 years" but "has no plans to bid for the men’s World Cup or the Olympics for the next two decades." England has not held the men’s World Cup since 1966, having lost bids to host the 2006 and 2018 tournaments. Simon Morton, the Deputy CEO of UK Sport -- the government agency that oversees major sporting events in the country -- said that the Women’s World Cup is "the biggest sporting event this country has never hosted," and that the U.K. "hopes to host the competition at some point in the 2030s." Among the targeted events are: the Women’s World Cup in either 2031 or 2035; the Rugby World Cup in 2035 or 2039; the World Athletics Championships in 2029; Tour de France in 2027; and both the Ryder Cup (2031 or 2035) and Solheim Cup (2030). Morton added that any potential bid for the Olympics "would have to also wait until the 2040s" (London TIMES, 3/5).