IT WAS ONE OF THE BIGGEST AND MOST COMPLEX EVENTS EVER STAGED

It’s a brief, billion-dollar celebration of sport, but the Olympic Games can leave a lasting legacy.

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM

LONDON 2012 OLYMPIC GAMES

With 26 sports across 34 venues, 10,500 athletes, a 200,000-strong workforce and 20 million spectators. Years after the medals were tallied, the London 2012 Olympics remains a benchmark for sport events worldwide – and RLB was proud to play our part.

Cities invest billions of dollars hosting the Olympic Games with hopes that the legacy infrastructure will deliver value for generations to come. But large international events, when not managed carefully, can cripple cities and leave long trails of debt.

This was the challenge facing the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games when it turned to RLB for help.

At a glance

  • Client
    London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games
  • Services
    Commercial Success
  • sector
    Sport
  • Location
    London, United Kingdom
London-London-Stadium

Smart solutions create sustainable value

Working closely with LOCOG’s design team from the earliest stages, RLB determined that just six of the 37 competition venues would remain as permanent structures.

RLB’s temporary overlay was delivered on time and within budget – with more temporary venues rolled out and packed up than in the previous four Summer Olympic Games combined.

“Olympic Games are billion-dollar projects – so the due diligence, costings and business case must be water-tight. RLB brings a very process-driven approach to help organising committees make the right decisions at the right time.”
Russell Lloyd, National Head of Cost Consultancy, RLB

The challenge? A cost-effective venue that could be reused, relocated and recycled after the Olympic Flame was extinguished.

RLB identified the scope and provided ongoing cost control. After the temporary venue was deconstructed, all the materials were reused, including sand recycled at sports venues around London.

Harnessing its team of global experts

Horse Guards Parade was one of 34 Olympic venues to showcase world-leading temporary construction and environmental regeneration. LOCOG and its partners, including RLB, had just 36 days to create the temporary beach volleyball venue at the centre of London’s ceremonial life.

  • 9
    venues
    at Olympic Park, 2.5 square km in size were equivalent to 357 football pitches
  • 20
    million
    spectator journeys, including 3 million on the busiest day of the Games
  • 200,000
    strong workforce, including 100,000 contractors and 70,000 volunteers

The best outcomes only come from the best people

RLB boasts a team of 20-plus specialists in sport stadiums and events. We bring our global experts to the table and build a local team around them – and this was the the differentiator that delivered the world’s best Games in London.

Strong partnerships and great places

Since the last athlete stepped down from the dais, the Olympic Village – now known as East Village – has continued to evolve and is home to more than 4,500 people. The former press and broadcast centres are a digital hub. Queen Elizabeth Park has welcomed more than five million people. And more than 10,000 people are working on new projects that continue the urban regeneration.

We’re confident RLB’s work, starting more than a decade ago, will continue to foster and nurture strong partnerships and grow great places for decades.

FURTHER INFORMATION:

Jonathan Edwards
Jonathan Edwards

Senior Associate - National Head of Sport

Sector