When we bid to host the 2012 Games, we made a radical proposal to the International Organising Committee.  We weren’t only going to put on the biggest sporting event in the world; we were going to hold the world’s first truly sustainable Olympic and Paralympic Games, leaving a legacy far beyond the departure of the Olympic flame.

Pushing the boundaries of what’s possible

Working in partnership with BioRegional and WWF, we developed Towards a One Planet 2012  – a sustainable Games guided by the principle that the world should live within its means.

We recognise that with over four billion people watching and over 200 countries involved, the Games are an unrivalled catalyst for sustainable change. Planning and delivering that is a complex process and we have continued to learn and improve as we go.

Let us take you behind the scenes to explore some of the ways we have planned, built and delivered with sustainability at the core – from the transformation of the Olympic Park and the building of world class venues, to the everyday decisions that are made by all of us at London 2012. 

Together we have strived to prove that there is a different way of hosting the Games, a way that provides the best experience for athletes and spectators alongside the best outcome for the community and the environment.

To bring our approach to life, we have focused on four areas that directly relate to anyone experiencing the Games for themselves or watching it on television.

Venues

All our venues are designed to ensure that all the athletes perform to the best of their ability whilst pushing the boundaries of sustainability knowledge and design.

From the start we planned with legacy in mind. Where possible we have used existing venues – Wimbledon, Excel, Lords and Earls Court.  Where there is a legacy need we have built new venues - the Olympic Stadium, the Aquatics Centre and the Velodrome and where there is no need, we have built temporary venues in iconic places such as Greenwich Park, Hyde Park and Horse Guards Parade.

To learn more about the sustainability aspects of each venue, join us for a ‘Walk in the Olympic park' during the Games or go to the Venues pages of our website.

Travel

With millions of people on the move at the same time and extra people travelling each day in and around London alone, it is imperative to get everyone to their venues on time. We have been working with Transport for London and many other partners to ensure that London’s public transport is ready.

We have also used this opportunity to remind everyone that London is a great city for walking and cycling. Our Active Travel programme has been working behind the scenes to bring together the organisations that ensure that we all have access to walking and cycling routes across the capital and co-Host Cities during the Games.

Food

Most spectators at the London 2012 Games will want to have a bite to eat and a drink. In this section, we show you how we have worked with the food industry to bring you fantastic food that is ethically and sustainably sourced.

Waste

With so many people descending on London and the UK at the same time, we have thought long and hard about managing all that extra waste.  We’re excited about the revolutionary new system we have created for the Games, which will make it easier for us to ensure that no waste is sent to landfill during Games-time.