Olympic Villages as a tool for urban regeneration

This Master's Degree Project (MDP) examines the role of mega-events, such as the Olympic Games, as a tool for urban regeneration. As cities shift from industrial to service-based economies, many once useful areas of cities are in need of significant rehabilitation and remediation. Olympic Games events provide many of the tools necessary to regenerate these areas; in particular, the Olympic Village is an important Games' venue with an important post-Games function. Through careful and strategic planning, cities can work with other tools--organizing committees, agencies, private partners, and various levels of government--to create a Village that meets the Olympic Games requirements while also moving the city towards its own future goals.;Key words: Urban Regeneration, Olympic Games, Olympic Villages, Barcelona, Sydney, Vision, Strategy and Partnership.;This MDP examines two case studies of Barcelona 1992 and Sydney 2000 for keys to success of using the Olympic Village as a means for urban regeneration. The research focuses on the importance of vision and strategy in defining and executing plans for regeneration of an Olympic site. The key points highlighted in this research serve as important starting points for future cities looking to use the Olympic Games or other major mega-events to advance community plans and regenerate inner-city areas.