Report on the Sustainability of the London 2012 Games

Executive Summary

London won the bid to host London 2012 Olympic and Paralympics games in the year 2005. Olympic Delivery Authority team pledged to establish sustainability in the construction and design the sporting facility and the surrounding environment which will be of the best standard for the competitions to take place. The two organizations were set up to ensure that all is well with the preparations for the Olympic included Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) and London Organizing Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG).

According to the report of the Olympic Delivery Authority team the tool that led to achievement of sustaining the construction and designing the sporting stadium and its environment was the establishment of Building Research Establishment Environment Assessment Method that was aimed to establish ways of assessing the sustainability different types of building either new or old. However Olympic Delivery Authority succeeded because of good governance and embedded sustainability into organizations hearts.

London Organizing Committee of Olympic and Paralympics Games made a meticulous plan to deliver quality level of sustainability through ground breaking initiatives like diversity and inclusion, food, zero waste plan, business charter and sustainable sourcing code.

More so communities and local community across United Kingdom greatly benefited from skills, jobs and employment opportunities since procurement was locally programmed (Milton-smith, 2002, p.131).

Use of combined cooling, power and heat and black water recycling not only ensured that water was conserved but also is supplied. Also availability of Channel Tunnel Rail Link, extensions to the DLR, Stratford International station, London Over ground and modifications to jubilee line made Olympic park one of the best connected places in Europe in terms of public transport. London Organizing Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games set up ambitious vision for fresh and healthy sourced food that will suit all tastes, cultures and budgets of all individual attending the games.

Aspects of Sustainability

Carbon

The challenge brought by climate change has been significant. However Olympic Diversity Authority (DOA) took active steps to reduce the carbon emissions in order to create an environment which is favourable and also developed infrastructure provisions to reduce carbon emission even after the games. Therefore Olympic Delivery Authority took up this carbon reduction approach through mean, lean and green.

Mean ODA reduced the energy demand of the villages, park and venues. This reduction in demand for energy was managed through balancing the requirements for cooling and heating, maximizing benefits of ventilation and natural light and innovative design at parks, venues and villages (Padley, 2006, p.61).

Lean- this involved using efficient energy supply with minimum carbon emissions. The Olympic Delivery Authority provided efficient energy supply through a proposed gas-fired combining cooling, heating and power plant within the Olympic park.

Green this involved supplying energy new, zero carbon dioxide renewable sources.

Food

London Organizing Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic commission targeted people to experience the game by celebrating high quality and diversified British food at affordable prices. The main focus for the commission was to provide healthy, diverse and fresh food. However prior to games London Organizing Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic games made an announcement to all spectators on food prices. Also it initiated shops to share resources to ensure that food is available and no shortage is experienced and the food outlets are assessable to all game spectators. Moreover London Organizing Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games also provided free drinking water to spectators at all venues (Anderson, 2008, p.85).

Wastes

Purposely the sustainability aspect of this was to ensure the all the gaming venues and surrounding is clean and no food wastes are carelessly disposed. In order to meet zero waste landfill, London Organizing Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games commissioned bespoke bins in order to support its stream source separation of wastes, into recyclables, residual and compostable. LOCOG partnered with cleaning contractors to pick litter and empty the bins in all the gaming venues and surroundings. The food processing industries and retailers were advised to pack the food and drinking staffs with recycled material in order to reduce pollution.

Recycling centers were developed to ensure the materials are to reduce congestion and also to ensure that parking materials are readily available for food industries and retailer across London and designated venues (Dodd, 2009).

Transport and Accessibility

This was greatly involved in the people’s ability to move in and out of the game venues and even get around while being there. Since London 2012 promised to be everyone’s games this part was crucial in delivering success of the games sustainability programme. The objective of this programme was to access for disabled people, equipment and facilities for disabled people, and effectiveness and efficiency in public transport system for all abilities at all time. Transport plan enabled the spectators to get to the events venues more efficiently because it set measures to retime, reroute and remode public transports. Strategies that were used to support this programme included physical upgrading of stations, recycling and walking routes and signage (Padley, 2006, p.586).

Biodiversity

London 2012 committee was deeply involved in conservation of biodiversity, bring people closer to nature through culture and sports, and also create a new urban green environment spaces around London and its surrounding. London 2012 was committed to ensure that games take their responsible attitude in natural resource management through direct enhancement to valuable the ecology of the lower lea valley and all venues around London and across the United Kingdom.  This was aimed at providing tourist sites for the locals or foreigners and sustains it for longer periods in many places in London and the surroundings. Through this ecology will be preserved and maintained for tourists and saving lives of birds and environmental animals.

Overview of Transport And Accessibility Sustainability

This was greatly involved in the people’s ability to move in and out of the game venues and even get around while being there. Since London 2012 promised to be everyone’s games this part was crucial in delivering success of the games sustainability programme. The objective of this programme was to access for disabled people, equipment and facilities for disabled people, and effectiveness and efficiency in public transport system for all abilities at all time. Transport plan enabled the spectators to get to the events venues more efficiently because it set measures to retime, reroute and remode public transports. Strategies that were used to support this programme included physical upgrading of stations, recycling and walking routes and signage.

That was the first time games brought together comprehensive measures to enhance walking and cyclist. However provision of public transport was of great significance with no capacity issues.

Extensive campaigns were conducted by TFL ‘Get Ahead of the Games’ which enhanced walking and cycling and transport alternatives to public transport routes for commuters all over London. Measures such as a website, public advertising and public address signs had a significant effect on overall travelling demand on the public transport network and on road traffic (Taylor, 2000, p.41).

Gaming venues all over London were designed to meet the appropriate accessible design and the best practice for the type of constructed building. The Olympic Delivery Authority partnered with British Waterways, Transport for London Port of London Authority and Department of Transport in order to transport materials by water. After the games this was estimated to provide a lasting recreational opportunity in the new parkland through canal network.

Survey

The opinion survey carried out through interviews, a sample of 500 spectators on sustainability of transport and accessibility. Out of 500 spectators 450 spectators were delighted the way London Organizing Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games and Olympic Delivery Authority organizations had planned the transport means from one destination to the other, accessibility of the venues and even order in which walking and cycling would take route. This was encouraging for the two organizations that were up to task of managing and ensuring there is smooth flow of spectators and no bad incidence is report on the gaming venues and even parking lounge.50 of the spectators out of 500 were against transport and accessibility plan since some walking would take long as 30 minutes. They had an argument that LOCOG and ODA did not take into consideration all the spectators across a line that is sick, disabled and even fat people.

Also data gathered from the London Olympic organization websites a number of opinions on transport and accessibility 94% of the opinions recommended LOCOG and ODA the way the management to control the people, transport facilities and also to maintain order. However 87% of the respondents had a confidence that the development and improvement of the transport channels like canal network had increased recreational facility at the park yard and so many places across London.

Conclusions

Development and maintenance of most efficient and modern transport facility by the London Organizing Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games and Olympic Delivery Authority will enhance rapid tourism sites across London and some parts of Europe due to efficiency of transport. Moreover the development of transport facility in London led to the increment of the economic activities and locals benefited due to employment opportunities since the procurement on transport was done locally. Due to this citizens in London have had a smoothing rides since the transport sustainability plan have greatly assisted in the reduction of traffic congestion and also reduce air pollution around London and its environment.

However citizens all over London are of great expectations that development of efficient transport facilities will easier movement across Europe any time purposely for business transactions or even labor movement across Europe .for the facilities which were not developed or well maintained should be taken care of for the citizens to use the in efficient manner or even for events which might take place in London in future times.