This interview by Urban Land Institute senior fellow Ed McMahon with former British Prime Minister, The Right Honorable Sir John Major reveals that London has been revitalized by three developments over recent years: the redevelopment on the banks of the Thames; the business sector at Canary Wharf; and, most recently, the renovation of east London sparked by the Olympic development.
All of these have provided a catalyst for ongoing improvements to transport, housing, and open space provision. If done well, hosting the Olympic Games can improve the overall quality of life in the host city for generations to come.
The revitalizing effects of the Olympics on London fall in three areas: rail and road transport; housing infrastructure; and open space and sporting provision. All were needed, and all will have long-term benefits. However, the Olympic Games brought about these improvements many years earlier than otherwise would have been the case.