Role of the London Olympics in Sustainable Development - Case Study Example

The contribution of the London Olympics to Sustainable Development Sustainable development is a concept that is gaining importance in all walks of life. In recent years the entire global community is facing various challenges due to the increasing population and to satisfy their growing needs. Through pollution and over consumption, this population is beginning to threaten the sustainability of Earth's life support systems. The main guiding principle of sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs (Encyclopaedia of Sustainable Development, 2001). In fact, sustainable development takes into consideration the interdependence of environmental, social and economic systems. Sustainable development also supports equality and justice through people empowerment and a sense of global citizenship. It basically involves maintaining the current rate of development whilst leaving suitable resources behind for future generations to continue to develop. This paper discusses in detail the steps taken by the London Olympics 2012 towards sustainable development. The London Olympics scheduled to be in the year 2012 is committed to creating venues and infrastructure in a sustainable way. This paper also intends to assess the contribution of the London Olympics to sustainable development. Environmental problems including pollution of soil, water and air, need to be tackled by considering their relationship with the state of the economy and the wellbeing of society. It is important to note that through a well planned development it is possible to create a sustainable environment without any damage. In other words it can be said that the environment together with the economy and the society include almost everything that needs to consider for a healthy, successful and stable life. The main objective of sustainable development is to balance the economic, environmental and social needs, fulfilling the needs of the present generation without depleting it for the future generations. It consists of a long-term, integrated approach to developing and achieving a healthy community by jointly addressing economic, environmental, and social issues, whilst avoiding the over consumption of key natural resources. For this purpose the London Olympics has developed various strategies towards sustainable development through proper management of resources and eco-friendly approaches. The UK Government has recognized four objectives for Sustainable Development and they are social progress and equality, environmental protection, conservation of natural resources and stable economic growth. It is a well known fact that global environmental threats, such as climate change and poor air, water and soil quality must be reduced to protect human and environmental health. The use of non-renewable resources such as fossil fuels cannot be stopped, but it is essential to create awareness about these things and reduce it's over usage. World experts including the United Nations have praised the efforts of sustainability policy by London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games organisers which include solving or reducing global environment issues such as climate change. Before we get into the discussion on how the challenges of sustainable development are addressed, it is important to know about the sustainability policy and its priorities. It is proposed that the London Games sustainability policy that is approved by the Olympic Board, prioritise on reducing emissions of greenhouse gases - through energy efficient design, use of renewable energy, environmentally friendly transport and management of green spaces as a strategy designed to assist the planet's climate. In fact this is a new policy that reveals how the Games can address long-term solutions for global challenge in terms of energy and water resource management, infrastructure development, transport, local food production and carbon offsetting. Special efforts will be made to minimise the environmental footprint and carbon emissions of the Games and legacy development, especially by optimising energy efficiency, energy demand and use of low carbon and renewable energy sources. The increasing population has put immense pressure on the limited resources of the earth such as the land, water and other natural resources. For instance, forest is cut down in different parts of the world for agricultural purpose, human settlement and other activities. This has resulted in increased degradation of natural ecosystems and is eroding the life supporting systems that uphold human civilization. Globalization is converting Earth into a single social system. The entire life support system is now threatened by human behavior, and it is extremely essential at a global level to protect and cherish this system. Globalization has been discussed far and wide to have both positive and negative impact on the global society. Globalization is having a number of effects-economic, political, cultural, religious, social, demographic, environmental, and military-with various risks and benefits. This new policy for sustainability, which builds on the IOC's commitment to environmental excellence and sustainable development, has been supported and encouraged by leading athletes and international environmental experts and organisations. For instance, Achim Steiner, United Nations Under Secretary-General and Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) said: "From the games in Lillehammer in 1994 through to Sydney in 2000 and more recently Torino in 2006, the environment has increasingly become a key and a winning competitor at the Olympic Games". "London can take this green torch forward by setting demanding and verifiable targets in areas from waste minimization to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. In doing so, London 2012 can play its part in demonstrating that mass spectator events can be entertaining, enthralling and environmentally-friendly. I wish the London organizing committee every success" (UNEP, 2006). Recycling is the reprocessing of materials that would otherwise become waste in order to make them into new products. London Olympics have plans from recycling or reusing demolition waste, to creating a sustainable food strategy during Games time to promote healthy living. It is important to recognise that the London Olympics 2012 is the first summer Games to develop such a comprehensive and integrated approach and the sustainability plan goes beyond being 'green' to include important socio-economic issues such as employment and business legacies in London and boosting sport participation throughout the nation. The five priority themes under this plan are as follows: The first priority is climate change. The London Olympics plans to minimise greenhouse gas emissions and ensure legacy facilities are able to cope with the impacts of climate change. Secondly it intends to manage waste. The main focus of waste management is to minimise construction waste and no waste being sent to landfill during Games time. Additionally, it encourages the development of new waste processing infrastructure in East London which can be used further. Focus on biodiversity through minimising the impact of the Games on the ecology of the Lower Lea Valley, leaving a legacy of enhanced habitats within the Olympic Park. Promoting inclusion and attitude change, particularly towards disability, celebrate the diversity of London and the UK and tackling unemployment, increase training and business opportunities for those people living around the Olympic Park site and Lower Lea Valley. This help in the improvement of economic status of citizens. Healthy Living is yet another focus area in the Games that will be used to encourage people across the country to take up sport and develop active, healthy and sustainable lifestyles. With the increase in the trends of obesity and other lifestyle diseases such as cardiac problems, diabetics, cancer etc. can be controlled to some extend through exercise. The highlights of the London Olympics plan include: A ground-breaking carbon footprinting study to measure the climate change impact of the Games and therefore identify and prioritise areas for reducing emissions. It is also proposed that the work with EDF Energy, London 2012's first Sustainability Partner to investigate the Olympic flame being low emission - a so-called 'green flame'. The constructions that are proposed as a part of games are focused to set up new standards using world-leading environmental rating tools. As we all know that the food industry will have excess pressure during the Olympics it is proposed to develop a sustainable food strategy, seeking opportunities to promote the use of local, seasonal and organic produce from environmentally responsible sources (Buildingtalk, 2000). The ODA have developed the Sustainable Development Strategy keeping in mind various challenges and opportunities. First and foremost is the location that is selected for the games. The Olympic Park is an area of good potential situated around the River Lea, bordered by the A12 in the north and extending as far south as Stratford High Street and features approximately 110 hectares of open space. In fact the Park is basically located on contaminated and derelict land and the landscape of the valley is dominated by past industry and overhead electrical pylons. It is also home to some of the most deprived communities in the country. Unemployment is a major problem in East London. It is proposed that a lot of people in this region will have employment and this will help in improving the socio-economic status. Noteworthy employment and business opportunities will arise as a result of the development with jobs being created in the construction of the Olympic Park. Since the Olympics will host high volumes of visitors, thousands of new homes are being built neighbouring the Olympic Park, which will also house Olympic and Paralympic athletes during the Games. After the Olympics these houses will be converted and will be supported by new schools, new utilities infrastructure, roads, transport, and community and health facilities in the local area. Additionally, it is also expected that Stratford City, neighbouring the Olympic Park, will become a major new town and business centre comprising of 139,350sq metres of retail space and 185,800sq metres of office space. The Lower Lea Valley will be able to take the advantage from one of the largest urban parks in Europe for 150 years after the Olympics. With an enhanced network of restored waterways and new wildlife habitat, this place will have a host of value addition. The Park will form part of London's network of green spaces, linking into the wider Lea Valley Park. Additionally, there will also be world-class sports facilities available for both local use and as training grounds for future athletes and will be a stage for the hosting of world-class events. Transportation facilities will also be improved tremendously with stations, line extensions and additional trains. While these aspects are necessary for the development to be successful, it is important to create awareness among the general public (strategicforum.org.uk, 2007). High-quality, low-energy and environmentally sound development is planned by the organisers of the London Olympic and they hope to form a strong foundation for such games in future. The Olympic Park would provide a model for sustainable new communities in future. It is important to safeguard the environment and also protect the life on earth. It is only possible through sustainable and balanced approach towards development. Whether we use synthetic engine oils or the traditional oils, it is important to use it in a proper way in order to minimize its impact on the environment. Global warming is a major challenge of the global community. Significant improvements can occur at the local, community, regional, and global levels if sustainable development is given priority. The London Olympics has planned for these developments based on various projections. Additionally, they also plan for nine world-class competition venues. The Olympic Park would include a 17,000-bed Olympic Village. As a result of these creations the biggest urban park in Europe for 150 years, with shops and offices, new public transport hubs, cycle ways and footpaths will also be formed. After the Olympics, 9,000 new homes would be created in the area. There are several environmental problems due to the waste that is generated through different processes. The only way to manage these wastes is to recycle or reuse or dispose these wastes in a safe manner. Recycling is widely assumed to be environmentally beneficial, although collecting, sorting and processing materials does give rise to environmental impacts and energy use. It can be said that sustainable development is the need of the hour and for this purpose every individual need to take part in waste reduction activities. The organizers of London Olympics have developed waste management policy that has a key role in resources policy, through creating a massive improvement in the efficiency of our use of resources, through maximising prevention, reuse, recycling and composting. It is essential that waste policy focus first on prevention of waste in general, and then on prevention of residual waste. Prevention of residual waste will involve an incremental process of examining this residual waste and examining what policy or other measures can be adopted in order to: (i) Prevent the production of this waste; or, if this is not possible, (ii) To make it reusable, recyclable or compostable (Friends of the Earth Europe, 2006). The Olympics would be a "zero-waste games", with advanced recycling in place to minimise the amount of rubbish sent to landfill, and maximise the use of waste materials as energy sources or for other uses. Every venue would provide recycling facilities and an education campaign to raise the awareness of staff, participants and the public (Independent News, 2005). Organisers are planning ahead to create the first "low carbon" Olympics. Eco-friendly constructions of new homes, offices and sporting facilities would all be low-energy, using superior building materials to reduce heat loss and reduce their environmental impact. These will also contribute to efficient heating and hot water systems, which could be modified to take account of advances in renewable fuels. Transportation sector is another important part of planned sustainability. During the games public transport, cycling and walking would be given more priority, with the Olympic park a "low emission zone" for non-polluting vehicles. Organisers are already planning low-emission buses for visitors and athletes, and anticipate that by 2012 it would be possible to run fleets of hydrogen-cell buses to and from the Olympic park. Fuel consumption is yet another area of serious concern. London Olympic Park would include sources of energy from wind power and solar power as well as conventional fuel, but planners anticipate that over the years advances will be made in renewable sources like hydrogen fuel cells (Independent News, 2005). Sustainable development offers the framework for integrating economic, social and environmental concerns over time. The draft Culture Strategy is strong securing economic benefits from cultural activity goes some way in meeting social concerns but is much weaker on environmental benefits. One of the ways in which London could demonstrate in sustainability credentials is in ensuring that a London Olympic bid is built on civic participation and is also founded on sustainable development principles and sets the highest sustainability standards. A London Olympics would be an enormous sustainability challenge, not least in relation to how London's transport system would cope with an estimated 9 million spectators (Comments on the Mayor's Draft Culture Strategy, 2003). The Committee has'given importance to a robust'and sustainable funding package to the development'of a high quality'London bid. Working in association'with the other'key stakeholders, and in particular'the Mayor'of London, the London Development Agency and the British Olympic Association, the Government'has'developed a funding package to strengthen its position as'the eventual sponsor'for'the Games'in the event'that'the bid is'successful (Department for Culture, Media and Sport, 2003) . Environmentalists suggest that the best reward of the value of a sustainable Olympics in London would be its impact as a model piece of environmental planning, which could later be a guide that would influence the design of new communities throughout the world (Independent News, 2005). Sustainability is a term that is changing rapidly and is evolving as a major discipline. New methods and technologies are repeatedly being developed. As and when various stages such as preparing for the Games, staging them, converting venues and facilities for legacy uses it is important to be able to take action to new situations and take advantage of new practices. These are the reasons for the commitment of the organizers to propagate sustainable development (London 2012 Sustainability Plan November, 2007). In conclusion, it can be said that sustainability is an important aspect that the London Olympics is concentration on. This will not only be an important issue that they will be tackling through proper modeling but also this is the first of its kind. The future Olympics can form sustainable development as the basis. It is true that there will be several challenges in attaining the goals of sustainability but is possible through proper planning. London Olympics that will be held in 2012 is an important turning point for sustainable development. The steps taken by the organizers are noteworthy and need to be appreciated. However, it is also important that as the developments take place, strategies need to be made to reduce any kind of over crowding. In general the attempts made by the committee in planning are good. Last but not the least with the new technologies developing each day, it is important to upgrade the existing system. References Buildingtalk, (2000) London 2012 launches sustainability plan. [Online] Available from: [Accessed on 30 December 2007]. Comments on the Mayor's Draft Culture Strategy (April 2003) [Online] Available from: [Accessed on 30 December 2007]. Department for Culture, Media and Sport, (2003) Olympics: Government'Response to 'A London Olympic Bid for'2012' (HC '268) Report'of 'the Culture, Media and Sport'Select'Committee Session '2002-2003, [Online] Available from: [Accessed on 31 December 2007]. Encyclopaedia of Sustainable Development, (2001) [Online] Available from: [Accessed on 30 December 2007]. Friends of the Earth Europe, (2006). Creating a new waste policy: Promoting sustainability through innovation and efficient use of resources. [Online] Available from: [Accessed on 30 December 2007]. Independent News (2005) London's field of dreams, [Online] Available from: [Accessed on 30 December 2007]. London 2012Sustainability Plan November (2007) Towards a one planet 2012. [Online] Available from: [Accessed on 29 December 2007]. strategicforum.org.uk, (2007) Olympic Development authority. [Online] Available from: [Accessed on 1 January 2008]. UNEP, (2006) London 2012's One Planet Olympics Policy Approved. [Online] 20 July 2006 Available from: [Accessed on 30 December 2007]. Read More