Abstract
This chapter notes the centrality of legacy to London 2012 and identifies six legacy promises made by the British government. Three legacy promises are reviewed in detail, relating to sport participation and volunteering, urban regeneration, and the rebranding of the UK. The analysis concludes that, in relation to participation, the evidence is equivocal with increases being skewed in favour of an older and more affluent cohort. While the hosting of the Games accelerated the regeneration plans for East London, the distribution of benefits has been uneven, and disputes continue regarding the cost of securing the future of the Olympic stadium. The use of the Olympic Games to promote a positive brand image for London and the UK was considered a success, although robust quantitative data on this have yet to be generated.
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© 2014 John Horne and Barrie Houlihan
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Horne, J., Houlihan, B. (2014). London 2012. In: Grix, J. (eds) Leveraging Legacies from Sports Mega-Events: Concepts and Cases. Palgrave Pivot, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137371188_10
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137371188_10
Publisher Name: Palgrave Pivot, London
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