Olympic legacies – Commitments for Sustainable Development

Hosting the Olympic Games is an occasion to plan and deliver lasting benefits which can considerably change a city in terms of urbanization. Cities can take this opportunity to achieve their long-term goals related to transportation, accommodation and infrastructures. Since the Olympic Games are a catalyst for changes, there is a need to plan an inclusive and sustainable development. This event is a round table discussion that brings together Mayors of Olympic Cities and urban experts. Every Olympic City representative will present his former or future strategy of using the Olympic Games to rethink the urbanization of their cities. They will share good and bad practices and discuss with the experts how the process could be improved from the planning of the Games to the legacy management after the Games. This event is organized by the World Union of Olympic Cities. Through its work, the Union contributes to the inclusion of sustainability, which is a pre-requisite for long-lasting legacies to become effective, in Games-related initiatives and other major sporting events management. The World Union of Olympic Cities is a non for profit organization aiming at facilitating and qualifying an on-going dialogue between former and future Olympic Games host cities in order to ensure the continued positive impact of the Games. This is the only association which brings together former and future Olympic Cities. Currently, 38 cities are members of the Union.