First IAKS UK Spring Event gathered UK clients, operators and designers

Best practices in legacy

More than 70 clients, operators and designers converged on the IAKS UK Spring Event on 2 April to discuss the development of community sports facilities, using the backdrop of the venues in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and the legacy of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. In his opening remarks IAKS President Dr Stefan Kannewischer introduced the IAKS Future Trends 2020. Populous Senior Principal and IAKS Executive Board member Tom Jones was the organizer and moderator of the event.

Keynote speaker Charles Johnston (Sport England) explained the involvement and investment of Sport England in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, which was restricted to the legacy functions. He laid out the engagement of Sport England to make cities more active by increasing the “walkability” of urban areas. The case study of Orford Jubilee Park in Warrington, a multifunctional leisure / community centre, shows that sports and non-sports activities are combined with significant economic and frequency improvements.