FINAL REPORT OF THE IOC COORDINATION COMMISSION GAMES OF THE XXX OLYMPIAD, LONDON 2012 INSPIRE A GENERATION FINAL REPORT OF THE IOC COORDINATION COMMISSION GAMES OF THE XXX OLYMPIAD, LoNDON 2012 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 Message from the President 4 Vision 17 8 Delivering the Games 52 of the International Olympic A simple, clear vision, consistently communicated and Amidst the complexity of the Games, London kept shared with all stakeholders provides the ultimate guide athletes at the heart, informing sport presentation and 4 Committee, Jacques Rogge for everyone building a Games. London had this from venue planning. A renewed focus on spectator experi- London 2012 delivered the “Happy and Glorious bid in 2005 through to delivery and beyond into legacy. ence impacted the Olympic Park as well as the host city. Games” – a celebration of Olympism at its best, not Ticketing, whilst always complex, and merchandising just from the athletes but from generous volunteers, ensured full stadia and healthy revenues whilst overall enthusiastic spectators and a host nation, fully 5 Governance 21 Games success was underpinned by effective transport, engaged in the Games and the Olympic Movement. The Organising Committee is at the centre of a network broadcasting, technology and accommodation. The Legacies from London 2012 are rich and the of partners and stakeholders so a vital early step is the Coordination Commission has captured the many establishment of a robust governance system – clear, 77 lessons learnt which can nourish future success. effective and unifying, but also flexible enough to evolve 9 Legacy and respond to changed circumstances. Positive legacies have to be baked into the programme early, and consistently nurtured – whether in the trans- 6 2 Foreword formation of London’s East End, increased participation This report represents the conclusions of the 6 Engagement 29 in sport, culture and volunteering, or the economic Coordination Commission’s work over a seven year London 2012 was “Everyone’s Games” – but not by benefits of employment, inward tourism and invest- period including the formal Debrief Conference in Rio chance. A highly structured programme of engagement ment – and in the UK the early signs look strong. Equally de Janeiro in November 2012. Thorough evaluation of and brand management exploited opportunities in powerful is the vibrant legacy for the Olympic brand each Games results in helpful recommendations for culture, education, torch relay, volunteering, live sites and the Olympic Movement. the IOC, future organisers and the many stakeholders. and community action all around the UK. 10 Lessons Learned 94 10 3 Executive Summary 7 Preparation 43 The organisers, stakeholders and partners all learned The success of London 2012 was built around six An early start on the physical and organisational from the experience of staging the Games in London – as core areas of focus: Vision, Governance, Engagement, structures of the Games builds momentum and confi- did the IOC. A number of specific reviews and actions Preparation, Delivery and Legacy – the report explores dence, whilst consistent delivery against deadlines and are already underway to prepare future Games to build each section in detail. effective cross functional working prepares a growing on the success of London 2012. team for the many tests in the final lead up. 11 Annexes 109 3 © International Olympic Committee – All links valid at the time of final edition (August 2013) FINAL REPORT OF THE IOC COORDINATION COMMISSION GAMES OF THE XXX OLYMPIAD, LoNDON 2012 Message from the President of the International Olympic Committee, 1 Jacques Rogge Summer 2012 was the time The Isles of Wonder “Creating sustainable legacies is welcomed the world and showed the best of its people, a fundamental commitment of the industry and knowledge. London and the whole of the very city that UK were entrusted by the IOC to not only deliver great Olympic Movement. E Games, but also nurture the Olympic spirit and share hosts the Olympic Games becomes Olympic values with the widest possible audience. a temporary steward of the Olympic After seven years of hard work, London 2012 delivered Movement. It is a great responsibility.ost 17 happy and glorious days of sport, emotion and It is also a great opportunity. H inspiration. As promised in 2005, the athletes remained a permanent focus for the organisers. Venues were cities capture worldwide attention. fantastic, showcasing the best of sport and the best Each has a once-in-a-lifetime chance of London. Huge enthusiastic crowds flooded into the venues, and millions of people lined the streets to get to showcase the celebration of the nd each creates a glimpse of the Olympic Torch Relay. The country human spirit. A that invented modern sport reinvented yet again a a unique set of environmental, successful way of presenting each sport in the venues social and economic legacies that and across various media platforms, thus captivating crowds of all ages, styles and habits. can change a community, a region, and a nation forever.” resident Jacques Rogge, IOC P 4 © International Olympic Committee FINAL REPORT OF THE IOC COORDINATION COMMISSION GAMES OF THE XXX OLYMPIAD, LoNDON 2012 MESSAGE frOM THE PrESIDENT OF THE IOC, JACQUES ROggE The true heroes of these Games were once again the tangible new infrastructure and venues in a completely athletes. Their feats on the field of play were matched reshaped East London, to grass roots participation in only by the exploits of the thousands of wonderful sport or the less tangible impact of having inspired a volunteers or Games Makers, who contributed to the generation of young people. Efforts, collaboration and joyful atmosphere experienced across the host city investment must continue, however, if all such legacies and in all Olympic venues. are to be sustained in years to come. With 65 medals, the impressive showing of the British Amidst the well-earned celebration, I am grateful to team was central to the success of these Games. It was the Coordination Commission for highlighting the many the result of sound planning, investment and dedica- lessons learned in London and the actions that the tion. These skills, combined with the inspiration of the IOC, future Games hosts and the wider Olympic family Games, are now being put to good use encouraging should take into consideration to build future success. more young people to take up sport – turning inspira- As a result of London 2012, our Olympic history has tion into participation. been enriched considerably, our Olympic Movement Yes, London 2012 was a golden summer for London has been refreshed and our brand is stronger than and Britain. It was also a golden period for women in ever. London 2012 showed how confident we can be sport and a golden time for Olympism as a whole. More in the power of the Games to change the life of young women than ever before participated in the Games, people across the globe. Let’s all continue to work and women played a central role within LOCOG itself. together to build a better world through sport! London 2012 stretched out the benefits of Olympism Thank you, London. beyond the 17 days of competition, engaging the whole of the British nation and participants around the world in a unique celebration of sport, culture and education. These Games continued a streak of successful Olympic Games, which over the last decade underlined the IOC’s approach to managing their complexity and assisting the organisers in their task. These Games will no doubt deliver many invaluable legacies, from the 5 © International Olympic Committee FINAL REPORT OF THE IOC COORDINATION COMMISSION GAMES OF THE XXX OLYMPIAD, LoNDON 2012 2 FOREWORD 2.1 IOC Coordination Commission 8 2.2 The IOC Debriefing of the London 2012 Games 9 6 © International Olympic Committee FINAL REPORT OF THE IOC COORDINATION COMMISSION GAMES OF THE XXX OLYMPIAD, LoNDON 2012 FOREWORD This Final Report of the IOC Coordination Commission Each section of the report concludes with a summary of for the Games of the XXX Olympiad – London 2012 recommendations for consideration by future Games – will be presented to the IOC Executive Board and hosts, the IOC and the wider Olympic family. These the IOC members at the 125th IOC Session in Buenos are brought together and summarised again in a report Aires, Argentina, in September 2013 by the Chairman coda of “Lessons Learned”. of the Coordination Commission, Mr Denis Oswald. See section 10, page 94 This report presents the key findings and lessons learned from the London 2012 Olympic Games, and By evaluating each edition of the Olympic Games, the covers the planning, preparation and hosting of the IOC aims to continually improve the Games experience Games, as well as the Games-time operations and by sharing observations, ideas and recommendations the Games legacies. with future Games organisers, as well as all the Olympic It also looks at how lasting benefits from these Games Movement’s stakeholders. could be drawn for the Olympic Movement, London and the whole of the United Kingdom. This report is the final output of the Coordination Commission, and is the culmination of a detailed post- Games analysis. It summarises the ongoing Games evaluation process, which forms part of the IOC’s Games management approach, and complements the IOC’s internal operational report. 7 © International Olympic Committee FINAL REPORT OF THE IOC COORDINATION COMMISSION GAMES OF THE XXX OLYMPIAD, LoNDON 2012 FOREWORD 2.1 IOC Coordination Commission The