Legacy evaluation and London, 2012 and the Cultural Olympiad

Abstract

The Summer Olympic Games were held in London from 27th July to 12th August 2012 with the Paralympic Games following two weeks later. In the immediate aftermath, the event was heralded as an outstanding success with praise for efficient organisation, welcoming volunteers and sporting prowess. But how do we evaluate the longer term legacy of an event like the Olympic Games? This article explores developments within the last decade to establish a paradigm for evaluating the legacy of the Olympic Games. The development of the International Olympic Committee's focus on “legacy” planning introduces this article and is followed by a brief synopsis of the contribution that the UK has made to legacy evaluation. The final section suggests that one of London 2012s major contributions to the Olympic movement as a whole may be what an interrogation of the issues surrounding legacy evaluation tell us about legacy as a whole.

Keywords:

• evaluation
• impact
• legacy
• Cultural Olympiad
• Olympic Games

Notes

1. The OECD formed in 1961 comprises 30 countries, including Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovak Republic, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, the UK and the USA. One if its prominent roles is fostering good governance in the public service of OECD countries

2. Extent to which a new input adds to existing inputs and adds (instead of replacing them) to make a greater aggregate.

3. Open Weekend is described as a moment of mass participation, realising the promise of “everyone's games”. It incorporates arts, cultural, sporting and environmental initiatives (Cultural Olympiad in the Southeast, September 2008–September 2010, 7).

4. The designation given to community and not-for-profit organisations that developed projects inspired by the Olympics. The ‘Inspire Mark’, enabled this wider field to be a recognised part of the Cultural Olympiad, but without the constraints on sponsorship that come with official designation.

5. Create in east London, Lakes Alive in the Lake District, Happy Days Samuel Beckett festival in Enniskillen and Abandon Normal Devices in the North West.

6. Big Dance UK wide; Busk on the Usk Newport; Lakes Alive Cumbria; Imove Yorkshire; Conflux and their Surge Festival Scotland; Human Race Scotland; Speed of Light, NVA Scotland; Screen Team East and East Midlands; Abandon Normal Devices Manchester & Liverpool; The Olympic Journey exhibition (with The Olympic Museum).

7. Unlimited Programme – £3 million provided to commission new programmes developed with and by disabled people.

8. Official projects carried the London 2012 logo, were advertised as part of the Cultural Olympiad programme and were bound by the protocols governing sponsorship. Besides this official level, designation was given to community and not-for-profit organisations that developed projects inspired by the Olympics. Through an “Inspire mark”, this wider field of grassroots participants benefited from being a recognised part of the Cultural Olympiad, but without the constraints on sponsorship that came with official designation.

9. Retrieved April 19, 2013, from http://www.london2012.com/about-us/cultural-olympiad/