The London 2012 cultural Olympiad – sustainable transport for all?

People attending mega-events, such as major athletics functions, usually combine their trip to include other attractions and activities in the host city or country. The London 2012 organisers have advertised the other possibilities for visitors to the Games through the Cultural Olympiad which was branded as the largest cultural celebration in the history of the modern Olympic and Paralympics Movements. In fact there are many planned events, scattered around the capital as well as throughout the UK. Organisers of these cultural events have placed their stakes on attracting some of the crowds that will primarily visit London to attend the Olympic Games. Always an essential part of visitor management, transport management for mega events is necessary to ensure that everyone involved get where they need to go, on time and with reasonable comfort. The new infrastructure provided for some of the public transport modes in and around the Olympic Park area, is part of the main idea of sustainable development and aims to contribute to the regeneration of the area. These are not measures intended to be removed after the event. These are meant to be part of the legacy of the London Games for the regenerated area in East London, in order to keep accessible, healthy, safe neighbourhoods, with sustainable job provision including the tourism sector and the creative economy industries. However, questions are asked as this type of improved, intensive and ‘greener’ transport provision does not extend to the rest of the city where other events would be taking place. No matter how ‘green’ the transport modes used at the Olympic Park area are, the increased flow to other attractions with conventional transport modes would negate any benefits. However, this should not become the reason to prevent people from reaching other destinations. Public transport in the capital is already a sensitive issue with problems including overcrowding, delays, service quality and value for money. Adding more people to the already overstretched system is something that would not please the typical commuters. This study takes a look at transport provision for the London 2012 games and the other cultural events that will be taking part in the city during the Olympic Games. It presents the various measures, new infrastructure and modes introduced in and around the Olympic Park area. The final paper will discuss the transport plans during the London 2012 Games, the impact they will have at the Olympic sites and possible implications that may arise for tourists and the everyday business of other creative industries in the rest of the capital. Examples from past Olympic host cities will be used to draw lessons for London