The London Assembly commissioned research into the long-term benefits of hosting the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games. The research, produced by London East Research Institute at the University of East London, examines the lasting impact of hosting the summer Games had on Barcelona, Atlanta, Sydney and Athens, measuring their achievements in nine key areas including employment, urban renewal, skills and sports participation.

It found:

• London has made a good start to securing a sustainable physical legacy from the Games, with an ambitious programme of urban renewal. But much more work is needed to secure other benefits such as employment, skills, sports participation and disability awareness. Previous cities struggled to make an impact in these areas and unless London learns from their experience, it too risks failure.
• Legacy momentum, or the host city’s capacity to continue to grow after the immediate post-Games downturn in economic activity, is critical. Best illustrated by the Barcelona Games in 1992, legacy momentum is the single most important factor in determining the extent to which the Games can drive the transformation of its host city.

A Lasting legacy for London?
Assessing the legacy of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games
May 2007

The London Assembly report is available as:
PDF download from A Lasting legacy for London? [1]
RTF download from A Lasting legacy for London? [2]

In addition to the London Assembly's report, the full research document is available from:
A Lasting legacy for London? University of East London research PDF

Lasting legacy for London? University of East London research RTF [3]