5 Lasting Effects of the 2012 Olympics

Mohammed Hamid analyses the impact of the London 2012 Olympic Games on the environment, economy, transport, culture, and sport.

Undoubtedly, the Olympic Games left a lasting mark on London and Britain. Though the Games themselves went off without a hitch, some question whether or not they will have a positive, lasting impact on British life. Here is our analysis of the effect of the 2012 Olympics from five different perspectives.

Environmental Impact

One of the biggest triumphs of the London Games has been their environmental impact - or lack thereof. Heralded as the "greenest Olympics ever", the summer of 2012 saw a successful implementation of recycling and regeneration efforts, setting the stage for the most environmentally friendly games ever. The lasting effects include the Olympic Park, which has permanently improved a formerly derelict area with green space. According to the BBC, the Olympic venues were built from approximately 1/4 recycled materials, setting a bold precedent for future games.

Economic Impact

Hoteliers and London hospitality providers complained of a severe drop in tourism during peak season due to the Olympics. Security and organisational fears kept visitor numbers shockingly low despite the tremendous fanfare surrounding the Games. In the long term, most economic experts note that the Olympic Games rarely create long-term financial gains - whether or not London will be an exception remains to be seen. While there's no doubt that London's infrastructure benefited from investment, it is unknown whether that will be enough to promote future economic growth directly.

Transport Impact

Transport was undoubtedly a contentious issue leading up to the games. Naysayers had doubts about TfL's ability to provide services without a hitch. Traffic was also a significant concern, as the Olympic lanes caused frustration among locals. However, now that the Games are over, the permanent positive effects on public transport overshadow any temporary inconveniences. Stratford is now one of the best-connected areas in all of Europe thanks to Olympic transportation investment, whereas the Tube itself can boast dozens of new, state-of-the-art trains that were rolled out, especially in time for the Games.

Cultural Impact

Linking into the environmental efforts of the game's organisers, The Tree of Life Project in the Thames Valley is just one example of the lasting cultural impact of the Olympics. Linking artistic expression and "green" thinking, this two-year initiative boosted creative production in communities along the Thames. Many schools participated in the project, including Reading College, OCVC, and Langley Academy. The Games also ushered in a strong feeling of volunteerism amongst the general population of London, creating a robust and lasting community spirit that has been celebrated by game observers and attendees alike.

British Sport Impact

The most significant lasting impact will be down to the underdog performance of Team GB. Against all the odds, the team scored more gold medals than any British team in the history of the games, to a final tally of 29. Instant stars were made in the likes of Bradley Wiggins and Jessica Ennis, and there's no doubt that many thousands of Britons have been inspired by the stories of relative athletic newbies like the women's rowing pair champions, the first British team ever to win gold in that event. Athletes and commentators agree that the success of Team GB in 2012 has inspired improvements in local sporting facilities, promising that Team GB will continue to perform in years ahead.

Conclusion

This analysis shows that the Games' impact has been positive. While sceptics made their voices heard before the summer, spouting doom and gloom, they have all but been silenced by the bounding success of the environmental and transport initiatives, as well as by Team GB itself.

This article is written on behalf of Oxford & Cherwell Valley College.

Page Reference

If you quote information from this page in your work, then the reference for this page is:

HAMID, M. (2012) 5 Lasting Effects of the 2012 Olympics [WWW] Available from: https://www.brianmac.co.uk/articles/article117.htm [Accessed 31/3/2025]

About the Author

Mohammed Hamid is a copywriter and experienced blogger working with independent schools.

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Undoubtedly, the Olympic Games left a lasting mark on London and Britain. Though the Games themselves went off without a hitch, some question whether or not they will have a positive, lasting impact on British life. Here is our analysis of the effect of the 2012 Olympics from five different perspectives. Environmental Impact One of the biggest triumphs of the London Games has been their environmental impact - or lack thereof. Heralded as the "greenest Olympics ever", the summer of 2012 saw a successful implementation of recycling and regeneration efforts, setting the stage for the most environmentally friendly games ever. The lasting effects include the Olympic Park, which has permanently improved a formerly derelict area with green space. According to the BBC, the Olympic venues were built from approximately 1/4 recycled materials, setting a bold precedent for future games. Economic Impact Hoteliers and London hospitality providers complained of a severe drop in tourism during peak season due to the Olympics. Security and organisational fears kept visitor numbers shockingly low despite the tremendous fanfare surrounding the Games. In the long term, most economic experts note that the Olympic Games rarely create long-term financial gains - whether or not London will be an exception remains to be seen. While there's no doubt that London's infrastructure benefited from investment, it is unknown whether that will be enough to promote future economic growth directly. Transport Impact Transport was undoubtedly a contentious issue leading up to the games. Naysayers had doubts about TfL's ability to provide services without a hitch. Traffic was also a significant concern, as the Olympic lanes caused frustration among locals. However, now that the Games are over, the permanent positive effects on public transport overshadow any temporary inconveniences. Stratford is now one of the best-connected areas in all of Europe thanks to Olympic transportation investment, whereas the Tube itself can boast dozens of new, state-of-the-art trains that were rolled out, especially in time for the Games. Cultural Impact Linking into the environmental efforts of the game's organisers, The Tree of Life Project in the Thames Valley is just one example of the lasting cultural impact of the Olympics. Linking artistic expression and "green" thinking, this two-year initiative boosted creative production in communities along the Thames. Many schools participated in the project, including Reading College, OCVC, and Langley Academy. The Games also ushered in a strong feeling of volunteerism amongst the general population of London, creating a robust and lasting community spirit that has been celebrated by game observers and attendees alike. British Sport Impact The most significant lasting impact will be down to the underdog performance of Team GB. Against all the odds, the team scored more gold medals than any British team in the history of the games, to a final tally of 29. Instant stars were made in the likes of Bradley Wiggins and Jessica Ennis, and there's no doubt that many thousands of Britons have been inspired by the stories of relative athletic newbies like the women's rowing pair champions, the first British team ever to win gold in that event. Athletes and commentators agree that the success of Team GB in 2012 has inspired improvements in local sporting facilities, promising that Team GB will continue to perform in years ahead. Conclusion This analysis shows that the Games' impact has been positive. While sceptics made their voices heard before the summer, spouting doom and gloom, they have all but been silenced by the bounding success of the environmental and transport initiatives, as well as by Team GB itself. This article is written on behalf of Oxford & Cherwell Valley College. Page Reference If you quote information from this page in your work, then the reference for this page is: HAMID, M. (2012) 5 Lasting Effects of the 2012 Olympics [WWW] Available from: https://www.brianmac.co.uk/articles/article117.htm [Accessed 31/3/2025] About the Author Mohammed Hamid is a copywriter and experienced blogger working with independent schools. Cookies This website uses cookies placed by third-party services that appear on our pages. Cookies are used for ads personalisation. You consent to these cookies if you continue to use this website. The site does use Google ads and Google have published information about Google’s use of information.