Olympic legacy is about creating lasting benefits for people, the host territory and the sports movement, says Tania Braga.
“There are three golden rules of Olympic legacy after Agenda 2020.
“1. The games adapt to the host.
“The project should fit the local reality. There is no one model fits all. There is a myth that the IOC makes a lot of requirements. It’s not about requirements, it’s about adaptation, flexibility and making the project fit the reality. We aim to maximise the use of existing and temporary facilities. There is also a shift towards human legacies. There are more opportunities for small and medium sized companies to get connected to the games. In Tokyo 2020, 81% of venues were existing or temporary. There were over 150,000 initiatives to drive community engagement.
“For Paris 2024, 95% of venues are existing or temporary. There is a €50m budget to increase the influence of sport in people’s lives.
“2. The Games adapt to the times.
“The pandemic created a blueprint for hosting the Games in the times of a pandemic that we didn’t have before. It helped us simplify the event and focus on the core elements. Collaboration was important: we could not have put the Tokyo 2020 Games on on our own. The IOC is already a carbon-neutral organisation, but in two years we will be climate-positive. We have an obligation for all Games to be climate-positive, beginning with Paris 2024.
“Globally, one in four adults do not meet the global recommended levels of physical activity. We have a requirement that each Olympic host puts in place a commitment to physical activity.
“3. Legacy is a living thing and it keeps evolving.
“85% of Olympic venues are still in use. Education programmes and youth sport initiatives are active for many decades after the games. The Games also leave a design, art and immaterial legacy.”
