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Action steps: Legacy and Sustainability

  • Continue to hold mock exercises with partners on a periodic basis. 
  • Continue holding regularly scheduled conference alls with public health partners to share information and resolve problems.
  • Identify issues that could benefit from an alliance-type approach.  Continue to promote collaborative planning and implementation of programs.
  • Continue working collaboratively to share expertise and training opportunities.
  • Build a better public understanding of the risks.

Public Health Legacy: Experiences from Vancouver 2010 and Sydney 2000 Olympic and Paralympic Games (PDF, 61 KB)

Sustainable Legacies for the 2012 Olympic Games   London Olympics 2012 Website [online] http://www.london2012.com/plans/sustainability/legacy/index.php

Sydney 2000 Olympics: Laboratory legacy

Bioterorism response protocols that the Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology Laboratory Services developed for the 2000 Games were useful in managing suspected bioterrorist incidents in New South Wales in October 2001-February 2002.  During this period, a spate of hoaxes and scares related to suspicious “white powders” required laboratory investigation of >1,000 incidents and 594 samples of suspicious substances.  In particular, “existing procedures for a coordinated and practical decision-making process that could be rapidly reactivated were invaluable.”

Source: James G, Yuen M, Gilbert L. Laboratory investigation of suspected bioterrorism incidents, NSW, October 2001 to February 2002. NSW Public Health Bulletin 2003;14:221-3.>

Sydney 2000 Olympics: Surveillance legacy

The Olympic surveillance effort yielded several long-term benefits:

  • Demonstrated the enormous potential utility of near ‘real-time’ surveillance for specific target conditions (e.g., injuries, illicit drug-related presentations, influenza-like illness) in emergency departments.  The Department of Health is pursuing ongoing surveillance in this setting.
  •   Fostered a greater understanding of the importance of timely surveillance and reporting of notifiable diseases and raised awareness among hospitals and general practitioners regarding the need for disease notification.
  •   Enhanced partnerships among the health department, public health unites, emergency departments, laboratories, and local government.

Source: Thackway S. Public health surveillance during the Sydney 2000 Olympic and Paralympic Games. NSW Public Health Bulletin 2000;11:201-2.


Last reviewed: 19 May 2010