Sustainability. Legacy. Rejuvenation.

These form the backbone of London 2012 planning, all tying together in a comprehensive package.

Once completed, the Olympic Stadium will be the most sustainable  ever built, using less steel, low-carbon concrete and even building the top ring of the stadium with gas pipes left over from a previous project. Many of the other buildings are temporary and others are to be repurposed after the games, although not all have a concrete future yet.

To control carbon emissions, only media personnel will be allowed to drive to the stadium, with the sole car park being constructed next to the International Broadcast Centre/Main Press Centre. All others will take public transport, like the Tube or buses.

Planners placed the stadium in Stratford, East London, an industrial area in need of renewal. Not only will the businesses and tourists coming for the games bring money, but also some of the surrounding area was converted to green space, including The Greenway, a pedestrian and cycling path running through the area.

These all link with the legacy plans, as planners hope the new park and businesses, including a large mall, will bring money and visitors to the area even after the games end. Also, some of the buildings will be turned into apartments and office space, another way of bringing resources to the area.

Not everyone is sanguine about the complete success of these plans, including Eric Hall, an Elon professor currently teaching a course on sustainability in the London study abroad program.

“I think that the original plan was very ambitious and I would not be surprised if they don’t reach all of the goals, but I hope that they continue to work toward them,” he said. “I know that it hasn’t gone exactly as planned, but I still think that the core values related to sustainability are present and I hope that this continues as it gets closer.”

The stadium plans didn’t benefit all the area residents, as some businesses were evicted to clear space for the stadium and park. For some, the compensation didn’t cover the costs of relocating, and they lost their livelihoods, but despite such setbacks, the plans for these Olympics will likely set a new precedent for Olympic planning and in the future, all potential hosts will focus on sustainable building as part of the bidding process.