March 3, 2014 by CallisonRTKL

Going for the Gold

It’s no doubt that signing on to lead the Olympic Games thrusts the host city onto an international platform. Each aspect of the process leading up to the start of the games is examined with a fine-toothed comb. Whether they sink or swim suddenly becomes an issue of worldwide importance. The two most recent Olympiads are no exception. While each tells a different story, both the London and Sochi sites faced their fair share of pre-hosting obstacles and will continue to face challenges now that the Olympic torches have been extinguished.

When London was selected to host the 2012 Summer Games, the criticism almost immediately followed. While the city began to scramble in order to create the necessary infrastructure for this huge event, the media magnifying glass began to scrutinize everything from the public transportation problems, to the fear of terrorist attacks and even the weather. The critics were even harsher when it came to Sochi. This summer seaside resort lacked any real infrastructure to host an event of this magnitude and according to many reports it seemed doomed before it even started. When the games began, social media exploded with #SochiProblems and journalists hounded the city’s perceived lack of preparedness. Ultimately, both cities have generally defied skeptics and pulled off a successful set of events with great style, atmosphere and organization. The security was at its best and all events ran like clockwork despite, at times, too much rain in London and too much sun in Sochi.

The real question is: what is the legacy of these events? For London, the post-games goal was to revitalize unloved, post-industrial sections of the city. The hope was that these facilities would help to spur development and create new neighborhoods in East London. While some think it’s not working, change doesn’t happen overnight. The strategy put into place during initial development has led this revitalization in the right direction. The London Olympic village provided much-needed affordable housing for local people with a great park and sports venues.

As for Sochi, only time will tell if the most expensive Olympics on record will serve as a catalyst for regeneration. I understand the concerns of young Russians who wonder whether the new ski slopes with alpine-style huts, ice rinks and hotels will be affordable for the ordinary Russian. The success of this post-Olympics town is directly correlated with the management strategy for the use of venues, public transportation and housing. I choose to be positive about the legacy of Sochi. The vision to transform this popular summer destination for the political elite into a world-class destination for sport and leisure is mind-blowing. My hope is that organizers realize that their job isn’t finished. Now, they have the opportunity to make Sochi a precedent for a long-term planning strategy with the ultimate goal of bringing in new business and enriching lives of the Russian people.

What do you think Sochi’s legacy will be? Will Rio be a more successful Olympics? Sound off in the comments below.

Cover image via: Flickr; The Department for Culture, Media and Sport

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CallisonRTKL

For more than five decades, Callison and RTKL have created some of the world’s most memorable and successful environments for developers, retailers, investors, institutions and public entities. In 2015, our two practices came together under the Arcadis umbrella, expanding our sphere of influence and the depth and breadth of our resources. Our team is comprised of nearly 2,000 creative, innovative professionals throughout the world who are committed to advancing our client’s businesses and enhancing quality of life.