Purpose The Olympic Games is the largest sporting mega event of its type, with deep cultural and historical roots. The event is short lived compared to the lifespan of the infrastructure required in host cities. The purpose of this paper is to examine models of adaptability in Olympic construction, using case studies in previous Olympic host cities of the Summer Olympic Games (Rome 1960, London 2012), to assess the impact of adaptability on future legacy. Design/methodology/approach A mixed methods approach (archival research, direct observation), was used in two case studies: Rome (Palazzetto dello Sport, Palazzo dello Sport), and London (London Olympic Velodrome, London Aquatics Centre). The case studies examined how adaptability was used in design to secure legacy. Findings In the selected case studies (Rome 1960, London 2012), adaptability has had a positive impact on the post-Games use of venues, all four of which remain in use today. However, there are multiple factors that contribute to post-Games legacy, and further research is necessary. Research limitations/implications Whilst some positive results were observed in this study, more research is necessary across a broader spectrum of sites and venues to make conclusive recommendations for architects designing for Mega Sporting events. Social implications The significance of this study to architectural practice, academia, and society is its potential to benefit future Olympic Games, International Olympic Committee policy, and be extended to other Mega Sporting events. Originality/value The originality of this research lies within its analysis of Olympic infrastructures and sustainability, of which there is a current lack of comparative studies in academic research.

Hosting an Olympic Games has the ability to considerably change a city and community, its image and infrastructure, with long-lasting effects in host cities and regions. However, securing long term function of Olympic sites and venues has proven a difficult task, as the increasingly specialist nature and scale of venues pose a major challenge for post-Olympic use. Appropriate planning is sited as central to achieving positive legacies as a result of the games Legacy planning and policy development expanded considerably in the context of the postwar Olympic Winter Games held in Europe between 1948 and 2014. The development of legacy policy and legacy planning have affected the design, construction and legacy of venues throughout the history of the Olympic Winter Games. Through a rigorous horizontal comparative analysis of all post 1948 Olympic Winter Games candidatures and official reports from within Europe, alongside a review of Olympic legacy policy, it is clear that richer understanding of the impact of past Olympic Winter Games policy and planning developments on the built environment benefits both present and future planning.