This handout was given to journalists who attended the Sustainability and Green Games media briefing on Monday 9 July in Westminster, London. Environment Secretary Rt Hon Caroline Spelman MP and GOC Director of Communications, Godric Smith, lead the briefing. The pack contains background information about London 2012, which has set out to be the greenest Games of modern times. Tel +44 (0)20 7271 1700 Web www.goc2012.culture.gov.uk Email mediaenquiries@goc2012.gsi.gov.uk Twitter @2012govpress

1. Sustainability Briefing
Facts and Figures
From Gold to Green - reducing carbon emissions to minimising food waste,
London 2012 has set out to be the greenest Games of modern times
Tel +44 (0)20 7271 1700
Web www.goc2012.culture.gov.uk
Email mediaenquiries@goc2012.gsi.gov.uk
Twitter @2012govpress
9 July 2012

2. Key Sustainability Figures
The new Olympic Park is the same size as 357 football pitches, measuring 246
hectares or 2.5 square kilometres
98% of materials reclaimed from demolition within the Olympic Park were reused or
recycled
Two temporary arenas have been constructed on the Olympic Park for basketball and
water polo events, with parts of the two venues to be reused elsewhere after the Games
52 electricity pylons were dismantled as part of preparation work on the Olympic Park,
and cables buried in two underground tunnels
300,000 wetland plants with 4,000 trees and 15,000 sq metres of lawns have brought a
splash of colour to over 45 hectares of new parklands surrounding Olympic venues
Almost 60 per cent reduction achieved in the Olympic Park’s carbon footprint –
exceeding a target of 50 per cent
2 million tonnes of contaminated soil was washed and more than 80
per cent reused on the site

3. Key Venue Facts
The Olympic Stadium sits in a bowl from which 800,000 tonnes of soil was excavated,
minimising construction materials. About 10,000 tonnes of steel was used, significantly
less than for other Olympic stadiums
The 6,000 capacity Velodrome is one of the most green London 2012 venues, with
sustainably-sourced Siberian Pine forming the track, a lightweight cable-net roof, and
natural ventilation through the external timber cladding
The Copper Box (capacity 6,500) venue is wrapped in 3,000 sq m of copper with a high
recycled content and energy-saving features include 88 rooftop light pipes providing
natural light and rainwater harvesting. After the Games the venue will become a 7,500-
capacity
multi-sports arena for the local community
The Commission for a Sustainable London 2012 Legacy Review:
“London 2012 is on track to have a social, environmental and economic legacy that is
second-to-none, despite challenging economic times.” (March 2012)

4. For digital content from today’s briefing, including video of Caroline Spelman,
Secretary of State for the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs,
please visit the Government Olympic Communication website at
www.goc2012.culture.gov.uk scan this QR code, and follow us on twitter
@2012govpress.
Tel +44 (0)20 7271 1700
Web www.goc2012.culture.gov.uk
Email mediaenquiries@goc2012.gsi.gov.uk
Twitter @2012govpress