9 July 2012

Sustainability Briefing Facts and Figures

From Gold to Green - reducing carbon emissions to minimising food waste, London 2012 has set out to be the greenest Games of modern times

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Key Sustainability FiguresThe new Olympic Park is the same size as 357 football pitches, measuring 246 hectares or 2.5 square kilometres

98% of materials reclaimed from demolition within the Olympic Park were reused or recycled

Two temporary arenas have been constructed on the Olympic Park for basketball and water polo events, with parts of the two venues to be reused elsewhere after the Games

52 electricity pylons were dismantled as part of preparation work on the Olympic Park, and cables buried in two underground tunnels

300,000 wetland plants with 4,000 trees and 15,000 sq metres of lawns have brought a splash of colour to over 45 hectares of new parklands surrounding Olympic venues

Almost 60 per cent reduction achieved in the Olympic Park’s carbon footprint – exceeding a target of 50 per cent

2 million tonnes of contaminated soil was washed and more than 80 per cent reused on the site

Key Venue FactsThe Olympic Stadium sits in a bowl from which 800,000 tonnes of soil was excavated, minimising construction materials. About 10,000 tonnes of steel was used, significantly less than for other Olympic stadiums

The 6,000 capacity Velodrome is one of the most green London 2012 venues, with sustainably-sourced Siberian Pine forming the track, a lightweight cable-net roof, and natural ventilation through the external timber cladding

The Copper Box (capacity 6,500) venue is wrapped in 3,000 sq m of copper with a high recycled content and energy-saving features include 88 rooftop light pipes providing natural light and rainwater harvesting. After the Games the venue will become a 7,500-capacity multi-sports arena for the local community

The Commission for a Sustainable London 2012 Legacy Review:

“London 2012 is on track to have a social, environmental and economic legacy that is second-to-none, despite challenging economic times.” (March 2012)

 

For digital content from today’s briefing, including video of Caroline Spelman, Secretary of State for the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, please visit the Government Olympic Communication website at www.goc2012.culture.gov.uk scan this QR code, and follow us on twitter @2012govpress.

Tel +44 (0)20 7271 1700 Web www.goc2012.culture.gov.ukEmail mediaenquiries@goc2012.gsi.gov.ukTwitter @2012govpress