Legal Guarantees for Olympic Legacy

Abstract

Such is the power of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) that they require sovereign states, eager for key cities to host future editions of the Olympic Games, to enact specific legislation designed to protect, amongst other things, the Olympic brand and its associated trademarks; it is also intended to prevent the occurrence of ambush marketing before and during the period of the Games, thereby protecting the commercial interests of the IOC and the sponsors participating in the Olympic Partner program. However, there are no such requirements for guarantees pertaining to the intended legacy outcomes of these Games, either in terms of their physical manifestation, or with regard to their sustainability, despite sustainable development being one of the pillars of the Olympic Movement. This paper argues that if the IOC were serious in their professed intent that Games’ legacies be beneficial for the residents of host cities, regions and countries over time, they could require the enactment of straightforward legislation guaranteeing planned and sustainable outcomes. Furthermore, the paper provides the example of a Canadian educational foundation to illustrate the infrastructure the IOC could impose on host cities to ensure Games’ outcomes are sustainable in terms of the lifespan of venues, infrastructure, facilities and equipment.