Londons 2012 Olympics - Essay Example

Specifically, this essay would present economic, social, cultural and environmental impacts of the developments in the Olympic site to London. Finally, important issues and concerns pertinent to the Olympic site development in relation to tourism would also be revealed. The Olympic games originated in Olympia, Greece from as early as 10th or 9th century B.C. The name ‘Olympic’ came from the word ‘Olympiad’ which means “an interval of four years between celebrations of the Olympic Games, by which the ancient Greeks reckoned dates”.

(American Heritage 1) The founder of the Olympic Games is ‘Pelops’, named after an island in Greece where Olympia is located. (Ancient Olympic Games par.1) The Olympic games are classified into Summer and Winter games; where winter games are catered to winter sports as contrasted to summer games which incorporates sports that date back to the Ancient Olympic games. “In the Summer Games, athletes compete in a wide variety of competitions on the track, on the road, on grass, in the water, on the water, in the open air and indoors, in a total of 28 sports.

The Winter Games feature seven sports practiced on snow and ice, both indoors and outdoors.” (The Modern Olympic Games 2) The bid for the Olympic site in 2012 was decided on as early as July 2005 with five countries bidding for holding the Olympic Games. The five bidding countries are: Moscow, New York, Madrid, Paris, and London. According to BBC Sport (par. 10), “news of Londons victory delighted flag-waving supporters who had gathered in Trafalgar Square and Stratford in the East End of London, where the new Olympic park will be built.

” In its plans for the development of the Olympic site, the official site of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games specifically emphasized that “London put sustainability at the heart of its bid for the 2012