Living Legacies

More than just a sports event, the Olympic Games are about the legacies that they create for their hosts. These include the long-term benefits the Games generate before, during and long after the Olympic Games.

Looking at past Olympic Games, we have identified the main legacies created by the Games.

Perhaps most important of all are the legacies for the people. Whether it’s through participation, volunteering, a better environment to live in or newfound civic pride, these legacies make a city, a region and a country a better place in which to live, work and learn.

There are legacies for the city: homes created, tourism and local economies boosted, accelerated transport infrastructure developments to connect and commute more quickly, water cleaned up, parks built, and business hubs developed.

Then there are the legacies for sport in the region and country: increased participation, new funding and better governance – often leading to more medals.

Finally, there are the clear perks of the Olympic venues – used by the world’s greatest athletes and then by local beginners, amateurs, semi-professionals and the next generation of Olympians.

Looking ahead, we are adapting to today’s times and global challenges. In order to further strengthen Olympic legacy, Olympic Agenda 2020 has drastically changed the way we approach the organisation of the Olympic Games, providing more flexibility in designing the Games to meet the long-term development plans of a host city/region.