London Olympics planners in danger of wasting 'lasting legacy'

The UK will struggle to create a lasting legacy to the 2012 Olympic Games if it does not start to refocus planning provisions now, according to research published today.

Two think tanks, the Institute for Public Policy Research (ippr) and Demos, have said that in order to fully benefit from the Olympic effect bid organisers must plan on the premise that it has already won the right to stage the Games.

Their report, 'After the Gold Rush', said that past Games have not always lived up to promises of long-term employment, social housing, increased sports participation or even increased numbers of tourists. The researchers found that a "significant amount of any legacy" will be delivered before the Games are held.

The report cited the 1992 Barcelona Games as an example if how "integrating the Games within a broader regeneration strategy" could deliver lasting benefits.

Most host cities have lacked a pre-Games legacy strategy and often got fixated on building iconic stadiums. London has made an early start on considering these issues, for example through the establishment of a legacy board, but a lot more work will need to be done to capture lasting benefit, according to ippr/Demos.

Instances of organisational headaches for host cities include Sydney where the stadium at Homebush Bay "remains poorly integrated" with the rest of the city, the facilities "are struggling" to find post-Olympic uses, and there is a current budget shortfall of A$46 million a year for the running costs of the facilities. Although it is too early to tell, with Athens 2004, the tourist campaign came too late with hotel rooms and tickets going spare.

In order to raise the profile of the London bid, ippr/Demos has recommended that 'Street Olympics' be staged in pubs and community centres around the country in order to promote grassroots participation and create ownership of the Olympics in neighbourhoods throughout the UK.

An Olympic Employment Taskforce, an Olympic Volunteer Army and promoting a Health City in the Olympic zone campaign would also help ensure a lasting legacy of regeneration, public health and well-being.

Anthony Vigor, ippr research fellow, said: "By working together from the outset, all those involved have a real opportunity to create a sustainable Olympic legacy for the UK.”

(gmcg/sp)