London Olympics are unlikely to have beneficial public health legacy, peers hear

Abstract

The London 2012 Olympic Games may not leave a clear and lasting legacy of improved public health, experts have said.

The government, however, is determined to develop a successful sports and exercise medicine legacy from the games, peers on the House of Lords science and technology committee have been told.

Peers on the committee heard from several witnesses at an evidence session on 12 June as part of a short inquiry into sports and exercise science medicine, which is looking at how the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games can be used to improve understanding of the benefits that exercise can provide for public health.

Questions were asked about the government’s decision, announced in January,1 2 to put …