Case Study: Sydney 2000 Olympics

Question 1

The organising committee for the Olympics in Sydney decided to make it a ‘green Olympics’. Why?

Answer 1

To regenerate the area
To improve the environment
To leave a lasting legacy

Question 2

How did they make it sustainable?

Answer 2

They put all the facilities together (stops transport problems, people can walk from venue to venue)
The Sydney site was Homebush Bay which had an industrial history that made regeneration costly and difficult. They remediated (cleaned up) the area.

Question 3

Homebush Bay had…?

Answer 3

Former coal gas plants 
Arnament’s dump (now used as a park)
Union carbide chemical plant
Former brickwork
Landfill sites.

Question 4

What did Homebush Bay become?

Answer 4

A nature reserve with cycle paths, wetland areas and other resources for people to use.
The former Olympic village was converted to a suburban housing estate- however this is expensive! The affordable housing proposed didnt happen because they ran out of money.

Question 5

What were economic advantages?

Answer 5

$3 billion investment came to Sydney, including $2 billion worth of permanent sports facilities.

Question 6

What were economic disadvantages?

Answer 6

Over $6 billion was spent on infrastructure.

Question 7

What were environmental advantages?

Answer 7

Where possible non toxic materials were used.
Building foundations were recycled.
Most of the facilities was on one site so traffic jams were avoided.

Question 8

What were environmental disadvantages?

Answer 8

The construction will have taken up space that could be greenery.

Question 9

What were social advantages?

Answer 9

Created a feeling of unitedness amongst the people.

Question 10

What were social disadvantages?

Answer 10

Redfern suffered increased police raids
Protests at Bondi beach at the loss of access to the beach.
Residents exposed to toxic dust from the clean up.
Cost of the games diverted government funding from health, education and transport.