The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) is the public body responsible for developing and building the venues and infrastructure for the 2012 London Olympic Games. The ODA’s priority themes included:
- Design and Accessibility
- Employment and Skills
- Equality and Inclusion
- Health, Safety and Security
- Sustainability
- Legacy
As I read the ODA’s priority themes, they all seemed worthy and important goals. The word legacy struck a chord and I wondered, “what does happen to the buildings and infrastructure after all the medals have been awarded, athletes and visitors have gone home, and life goes back to normal?” I decided to find out.
Investment in Tomorrow
75 pence of every £1 (100 pence per pound) that was spent went towards the long-term transformation of East London and the Lea River Valley. This includes world-class sports venues, open space, energy networks, waterways, roads and bridges, transportation links, thousands of homes, and education and healthcare facilities.
Environment and Sustainability
Ever since the 1994 Olympics held in Lillehammer, Norway, sustainability has played an increasingly important role in planning and staging the Olympic Games.
Prior to morphing into Olympic Park, the site in East London was derelict and polluted. Development of Olympic Park represented a huge opportunity to mitigate negative environmental impacts often caused by demolition and construction, and to rehabilitate the natural environment. A few highlights include:
1.4 million cubic meters of soil were cleaned using a green clean-up process involving 5 soil-washing machines.- 70,000 cubic meters of industrial and domestic waste were separated into piles of glass, metals, concrete and soil, and later reused on site or recycled off site.
- 98% of materials generated from demolition were reused or recycled.
- 100+ hectares of open space with parkland and wetlands were created or rehabilitated and will reduce the risk of flooding in the Lea River Valley and enrich the biodiversity of the area.
Learning Legacy
The ODA’s Learning Legacy project was created to capture and share knowledge learned from the construction of the Olympic Park. Anyone with an Internet connection can benefit from lessons learned, innovations, best practices, research, and case studies.
Sustainable Event Management
A legacy of London 2012 is a global standard for sustainable event management ISO 20121. The standard addresses sustainability before, during, and after an event. Social and economic interests are linked with environmental and sustainability aspects.
Lasting Legacy
The lasting legacy of the 2012 London Olympic Games is the transformation of a large section of East London and its potential for long-term growth and development for both community and business.
The Velodrome used green building materials and methods such as using natural light and ventilation to reduce energy use. Temperature and environmental conditions inside are set to create the world’s fastest cycling track making this a world-class venue that will continue to draw cycling competitors and enthusiasts.- Olympic Village will provide 2,818 new homes, for sale or rent, of which half will be affordable housing, along with new education and healthcare facilities.
- New infrastructure including bridges, roads, transportation links, and pedestrian byways will facilitate getting around in the emerging community and connect it to the greater London area.
- The Energy Center’s modular design facilitates adding capacity and new technology as the area grows and develops.
- The flexibility and state of the art technology of the International Broadcast Center will be a draw for new businesses and jobs
London Legacy Development Corporation
The London Legacy Development Corporation is a public sector, not-for-profit organization that will be responsible for the long-term planning, development, management and maintenance of the Olympic Park and its facilities after the London 2012 Games.
There is a counter on their website counting down the days until Olympic Park will be handed over for its next phase of development. The first order of business — Olympic Park will be renamed Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
Related Posts
- 2012 London Olympics Sustainability — Feeding the Masses
- 2012 London Olympics Sustainability — Recycling and Composting
Resources
- Olympic Delivery Authority (link inactive 07/2019)
- 2012 London Olympics Legacy
- 2012 London Olympics Sustainability
- 2012 London Olympics Learning Legacy
- London Legacy Development Corporation
