How The Olympics Games Can Shape A City – Urban Landscape - Part II

3 - The importance of the Olympic Stadium

The architecture of the Olympic Stadium is much more than a sporting venue. It expresses national identity, cultural values and political agendas through built forms. They are the showstoppers of the host countries.

The stadium, the temple of athletics, hosts the flagship events of the summer games. Like a cauldron with over 50,000 seats, its oval shape creates an unrivalled feeling of collective sharing in the games.

It is above all the opening and closing ceremonies of the Games that will leave a lasting impression; the parade of delegations, the flag bearer, the passing of the Olympic flame between representatives of the host countries, and the virtuosity of the participants (arrival of Queen Elizabeth and James Bond by helicopter at London 2012, choreography by hundreds of dancers) always take place in the Olympic stadium; those moments will stay in everyone’s memory.

Importance of the venue is seen in its budget:  the Multipurpose Stadium in Sidney (2000) costs $525 million, 10 per cent of the $5 billion Games budget.  In 2008, Beijing developed the Bird's Nest by Swiss architects Herzog & de Meuron[1].

So far, the Stadium construction cost is the biggest part in the Olympics Budget.

*Pandemic was an unfortunate key factor on the final bill

Once the Games are over, maintenance costs have to be paid and events organised for a large audience, which football and rugby competitions, and even concerts, can provide.

N/A: Already built Stadium

TBD: Unknown maintenance fees

1 = Sports Venue (FC Barcelona, 2025 Tokyo Athletics World Championships)

2 = Both Sports and Concert venue

3 = Place of Interest

The important maintenance fees of the above-mentioned Landmark, because of their size or their particular nature ("white elephants" expenses), could limit their post-Olympic use.

This is probably why the next hosting cities for 2028 and 2034, Los Angeles and Brisbane have decided to skip this expensive infrastructure by using their current Stadium.

1. - A model for the gentrification of abandoned areas

Hosting the Games means that elements of civil society (housing, schools, shopping centres, offices) can be built in neglected areas and remain.

The London 2012 Games led to the development in Stratford, and nearby the Westfield shopping centre (2011), with 242,000 square metres of shopping mall.

Property prices have risen by 122% after 10 years, due to new transport links, in the area around Stratford City [2].

All the above-mentioned Games will run a housing and transportation project, at least 10 years

before hosting the Games.

Any property investor should keep an eye on the upcoming games, the Brisbane 2032, as Los Angeles 2028 is already now; and be ready before the next IOC choice.  Mexico has withdrawn; Poland, Turkey and Indonesia remain in the running for 2036.

1. - Creating a lasting architectural structure: Environmental purposes and iconic Landmarks

The Olympic Village in Tokyo 2020 was innovating with recyclable cardboard beds and hydrogen-powered energy system, and in town, with public transportation and fuel cell electric vehicles [3]

The Sidney stadium represents the traditional Australian Akubra hat

Like the Great Exhibitions, the Olympics gives light on the hosting city and its latest culture.

Call to worldwide famous architects will give a brand and strong image to the new buildings.

Swiss Architects Herzog & de Meuron (Bird’s Nest in Beijing), American Frank Gehry designer of the giant goldfish, In Barcelona (after the Gugenheim in Bilbao), and Ms. Zaha Hadid’s creator fo the Aquatics Centre, in London Stratford.

As well, the 15-metre-high ArcelorMittal Orbit, by Anish Kapoor, would witness of the participation in the Olympic Games, leaving a mark for future generations.

Ho

[1] https://www.arup.com/projects/chinese-national-stadium

[2] https://www.lloydsbankinggroup.com/media/press-releases/2022/lloyds-bank/2012-olympic-boroughs-top-london-house-price-podium.html

[3] https://theconversation.com/tokyos-olympic-legacy-will-hosting-the-games-have-benefitted-local-communities-165433