London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games

London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games

The Games are huge in scale - twenty-six times the size of the world championships. 15,000 athletes from over 200 countries take part. The Government's vision is to ensure a safe and successful Olympic and Paralympic Games in London in 2012, and to deliver a genuine and lasting legacy.

The transport challenge

Effective transport planning and delivery is key to making the Games a success. It requires the input of many stakeholders: some are mentioned below and include the Department for Transport.

At the heart of the Games are the athletes. It is important that they have safe, secure, reliable and efficient transport during the Games so that they have an environment in which they can excel.

Spectators also need to be able to enjoy the Games; and people going about their daily business need to be able to do so with minimal disruption.

On each of the 16 days of the Olympic Games between 300,000 and 900,000 spectators plus 55,000 athletes, officials, media and marketing partners will need transport; and 160,000 and 16,500 respectively on each day of the 12 days of the Paralympic Games. In addition, a workforce of around 170,000 will also need good transport to ensure the Games can operate.

Who does what?

The Government Olympic Executive (GOE), part of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, leads for Government on delivery of its Olympic objectives.

The actual staging of the Games is the responsibility of the privately funded London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG). Transport of the athletes, officials, media and marketing partners who together comprise the Games Family is a specific responsibility of LOCOG.

The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) is the public sector body responsible for delivery of all the necessary infrastructure for the Games. It leads on the overall planning and delivery of transport for the Games, and earlier this year consulted on a second edition of the Olympic Transport Plan.

The Department for Transport (DfT)'s contribution to the Games can be divided into the following three main areas:

1 – ODA Co-funding

DfT is a co-funder of the ODA and is contributing around £1bn towards ODA's £8bn budget for the Games' infrastructure. Our objective as co-funder is to ensure delivery of the agreed scope for venues and infrastructure for the Games, on time and within budget.

2 – DfT delivery commitments

DfT and its Agencies have a direct role in a number of the projects and workstreams that help deliver the ODA's Olympic Transport Plan and will leave a legacy of improved transport infrastructure and operations