An assessment technique for the evaluation and promotion of sustainable Olympic design and urban development

Abstract

A response is presented to the dilemma of hosting resource-intensive large-scale sporting events at a time when requirements for sustainability and sustainable development must also be met. A framework was devised for judging development and design issues for future planning, one which is based upon extant historic evidence from host city experiences as well as previous event outcomes. It offers potential to compare plans against best/optimal practice. The technique for appraisal arises from a detailed analysis of Olympic Games held since 1896. Data associated with venue design, construction and usage, athletes' accommodation, and the facilities for officials, the media and visitors/spectators, were amassed and reviewed. An evaluation technique was produced which demonstrates how the organizers of a modern Olympic Games can assess and reflect upon planning, design and development decisions associated with their own city from an early outline stage. This should permit less wasteful, more appropriate and more sustainable Games' infrastructures to be considered before complex detailed development occurs.

Il est présenté une réponse au dilemme que pose l'accueil d'évènements sportifs de grande envergure et mobilisant des ressources considérables à une époque où les exigences en termes de durabilité et de développement durable doivent également être satisfaites. Un cadre a été conçu pour juger des questions de développement et de conception pour la planification future, un cadre qui est basé sur les traces historiques encore existantes des expériences des villes d'accueil aussi bien que sur les résultats des épreuves antérieures. Il offre la possibilité de comparer les plans aux pratiques d'excellence/optimales. La technique d'évaluation découle d'une analyse détaillée des Jeux Olympiques organisés depuis 1896. Les données associées à la conception, à la construction et à l'utilisation du lieu d'accueil, à l'hébergement des athlètes, et aux installations destinées aux officiels, aux médias et aux visiteurs/spectateurs, ont été recueillies et examinées. Il a été élaboré une technique qui montre comment les organisateurs de Jeux Olympiques modernes peuvent évaluer et réfléchir aux décisions de planification, de conception et de développement associées à leur propre ville dès un stade de conception précoce. Ceci devrait permettre d'envisager des infrastructures de Jeux engendrant moins de gaspillage, plus adaptées et plus durables, avant que n'intervienne le développement détaillé du complexe.

Keywords:

• environmental assessment
• evaluation framework
• Olympic Games
• sustainable design
• urban development

Keywords:

• bilan environnemental
• cadre d'évaluation
• Jeux Olympiques
• conception durable
• développement urbain

Acknowledgements

The authors thank the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for support in accessing material in the Olympic archives. Figures in this paper were adapted from those published by Pitts & Liao (2009), fig. 8.1, p. 127 (Figure 1); fig. 9.1, p. 147 (Figure 2); and fig. 8.4, p. 145 (Figure 3); and indicator tables from the following pages: 148–150, 155, 159–161, 172, 174, 175 and 177–179 (Appendix figures A1–A19, available online under the Supplemental Files tab at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09613218.2013.790590). All were published with permission.

Figure A1 Indicator A1 Consistency of Olympic urban development with the city's long-term master plans and other local planning consensus

Figure A2 Indicator A2 Use of existing and temporary facilities

Figure A3 Indicator A3 Olympic parklands: location and size

Figure A4 Indicator A4 Development components for supportive infrastructure

Figure A5 Indicator B1 Contribution of overall Olympic master planning to a sustainable urban form

Figure A6 Indicator B2 Reclamation and reuse of brownfield and problematic land

Figure A7 Indicator B3 Appropriate form of development: grain, layout and density

Figure A8 Indicator B4 Appropriate form of development: scale

Figure A9 Indicator C1 Energy-efficient lighting systems

Figure A10 Indicator C2 Energy-efficient heating systems

Figure A11 Indicator C3 Energy-efficient cooling and ventilation systems

Figure A12 Indicator C4 Use of new and renewable energy resources

Figure A13 Indicator C5 Other energy saving initiatives

Figure A14 Indicator D1 Water conservation

Figure A15 Indicator E1 Materials and structures for sustainable Olympic venues

Figure A16 Indicator F1 Olympic transport issues

Figure A17 Indicator G1 Improving post-Olympic utilization of venues

Figure A18 Indicator H1 Improving the functionality of Olympic venues

Figure A19 Indicator I1 Delivering positive environmental impacts through Olympic development