Setting the Agenda for an Evidence-based Olympics

To prepare for the London 2012 Olympic Games, it will be vital to ensure that the planning, delivery and legacy of the Games are fully accountable and based on the soundest evidence base available. The evidence base for specific policies can be built on two main foundations. Firstly, on the available evidence from previous mega-events; and secondly, through new primary research that places the challenges faced by the Olympics in the London context. In this report we present a meta-analysis of Olympic Games and mega-event policy issues based on a literature review of previous evaluations and analyses, to identify key issues that should be addressed in order to contribute to London 2012’s aspiration as the most successful modern Games. We highlight two policy areas (transport and infrastructure, and security) in which specific research tools can be used to facilitate evidence-based policy making. In order to understand the evidence base required for transport and infrastructure, we have investigated the sorts of issues that can be addressed and provided a selection of potential studies that would provide high quality primary evidence for policy making for the Games. These studies make use of a number of modelling techniques in use at RAND Europe. Security is a particularly big concern for the modern Olympics. Through investigating previous threats, we can identify the likely threat types to London 2012. By understanding the interaction of hostile intent; operational capability; and potential influences on security, we can start to identify the security capabilities required to address different threats to security during London 2012.