- Date
- 10 Aug 2012
- Tags
- Legacy , London 2012 , IOC News
London 2012 venue legacy ensured for years to come
Throughout the planning and construction process for London 2012, the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) has kept a vision of the future in mind.
The venues for the Games have shown that it is possible to achieve high standards in areas such as sustainability, equality and inclusion, and business, jobs and training even for major construction projects such as this. The outcome of this will be a lasting legacy for the construction industry, whereby these new standards become the benchmark in the future.
The building of permanent venues for London 2012 was only approved if there was the potential for long-term use. These include the new Lee Valley White Water Centre, which will remain open as a canoe centre for the public and elite athletes, and the Velodrome within the Olympic Park, where plans are in place to reconfigure the track and a new mountain bike course and road cycle circuit will be added.
Where possible, LOCOG has incorporated or enhanced existing facilities and venues into its plan for hosting London 2012. The rowing course at Eton Dorney was already used by the local community and for international competitions, so only required minor improvements to make it suitable for competitions in the Olympic Games.
Likewise, Weymouth and Portland was already hosting world-class sailing events, but the improvements made for the Games will leave behind state-of-the-art facilities for elite training, competition and community use. A programme that introduces young people in the local area to take up sailing is already underway.
Other temporary venues were created at some of London’s best landmarks, such as the Beach Volleyball Venue at Horse Guards Parade and the Equestrian facilities in Greenwich Park. While these temporary constructions will be removed completely after the Games, the showcasing of some of the capital’s most famous and picturesque landmarks will provide a boost to tourism for years to come.