Design and accessibility

We are delivering design for the London 2012 Games that combines excellence with innovation. We are creating exciting, well-designed venues that are an appropriate stage for the greatest sporting and cultural event on Earth.

We are designing for the Games and legacy together. The venue designs must obviously meet the requirements of the Olympic and Paralympic Games but we are looking beyond 2012. We are only building permanent venues if there is a long-term use. We will not leave 'white elephants' and are being creative in the use of temporary venues and seating.

We also want the design of the venues within the Olympic Park to deliver a striking visual statement that reflects the importance of the Games, while ensuring they are balanced with the urban architecture and landscape that define the area. After the Games the venues must seemlessly connect with the parklands and urban neighbourhoods that surround them.

Inclusive design is at the heart of our design process, and has been since the project began. The Olympic Village, the sporting venues, new transport services, supporting facilities and the Park itself will be accessible to people with a wide range of disabilities both during and after the Games. We want to set an excellent standard of accessibility for disabled people, older people and families with children, which will set a benchmark and act as an inspiration to others.