The long-lasting legacy of Olympic venues

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An updated analysis of venues shows that 86 percent of all permanent venues used at the Olympic Games since Athens (Greece) 1896 and 94 percent of those from the 21^st century are still in use today.

‘International Olympic Committee’ stated that building on the original 2022 report the updated study now includes venues from Tokyo (Japan) 2020 and Beijing (China) 2022 highlighting how the Games continue to deliver lasting benefits for their host communities.

Released recently at the Olympic Legacy Forum in PyeongChang, Republic of Korea, the updated ‘Over 125 years of Olympic Venues: Post-Games Use’ report examines the 982 venues that have hosted the medal events, the Opening and Closing Ceremonies and the Olympic villages across 53 editions of the Games, from Athens 1896 to Beijing 2022.

‘International Olympic Committee’ further stated that the use of the Olympic venues is multipurpose, from sports activities such as training and competition to non-sport uses including culture, leisure, community and business.

Commented Christophe Dubi, IOC Olympic Games Executive Director, “We’re proud to confirm that 86 percent of the Olympic venues remain in use today – a clear proof of the Games’ long-term legacy. The results speak for themselves: The recent editions are creating stronger, more sustainable legacies for the Host Cities and their communities and we hope that each new edition will continue to build on this.”

Maintained Marie Sallois, IOC Sustainability Director, “By studying how past Olympic venues are used after the Games we’ve identified strategies to maximize their long-term value. The year-round, multipurpose use keeps the facilities active and relevant. By prioritizing the existing or temporary venues and building only when there’s a clear, long-term need, the Host Cities can align the Games with their development goals.”
 

Spotlight on two New Games Editions

100 percent of all permanent venues from Tokyo 2020 and Beijing 2022 still in use:

• All 33 permanent venues from Tokyo 2020 are still in use including five venues from the 1964 Games such as the 12,898-capacity Yoyogi National Stadium and the 9,300-capacity Equestrian Park. Each venue has an operator and a legacy plan hosting events for the local communities and the elite athletes, from fitness and taster sessions to international competitions; and
• All 16 permanent venues from the Beijing 2022 Games – including 12 competition venues, four of which were originally built for Beijing 2008 and later repurposed for ice sports – continue to operate. Multipurpose and active all year-round they host sporting, cultural and recreational activities, support the elite athletes and serve the local communities.

 
Other Key Findings:

• Eighty-seven (87) percent of complex venues (the Olympic stadiums, the Olympic Villages, the swimming pools, the velodromes, the ski jumping hills, the sliding centers, and the ice hockey stadiums) are still in use;
• Permanent venues, whether newly built or existing, remain in use at similar rates; and
• The proportion of temporary venues has increased in the 21^st century to avoid building permanent structures when there is no long-term need.

 

Maximizing Long-term Benefits for the Hosts

In line with the IOC’s Olympic Agenda the Games aim to adapt to the host territories and help accelerate their long-term development plans while minimizing their footprint. Paris (France) 2024 used 95 percent existing or temporary venues which allowed the organizers to cut their carbon footprint to half compared to London (UK) 2012 and Rio (Brazil) 2016. Milano Cortina (Italy) 2026 will spread events across the existing sites minimizing new construction while building on Italy’s expertise in hosting world-class competitions while Los Angeles (US) 2028 will stage the Games without building a single new permanent venue, embracing a “radical reuse” approach that maximizes efficiency and sustainability.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is the international, Non-Governmental, sports governing body of the modern Olympic Games. Founded in 1894 by Pierre de Coubertin and Demetrios Vikelas it is based in Lausanne, Switzerland.

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