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Olympic venues were critical to our bid. You could say that the 2016 Winter YOG are built on the legacy of 1994.ÓWith the International Olympic Committee (IOC) placing an ever-greater emphasis on the positive legacies that the Games can create for host cities, the example set by Lillehammer has been widely welcomed by the Olympic Movement.ÒWe returned to Lillehammer with a great sense of pride because of what they have done since 1994,Ó explains Christophe Dubi, the Executive Director of the Olympic Games. ÒWhat is really pleasing is that everything that was built for the Winter Games back in 1994 is still being used for both community and commercial use. None of the venues today are out-dated; none of these venues have really aged, which means that since 1994 theyÕve been used constantly, and been consistently updated.ÓBut while new sporting venues are often the most obvious example of Olympic legacies, host cities can also enjoy an array of other benefits Ð both tangible and intangible Ð that range from urban regeneration projects and infrastructure improvements to enhanced national pride, increased tourist visitors or an upsurge in community sports participation.And with public concerns about costs, sustainability and the long-term benefits of hosting the Olympic Games growing in recent years, it has never been more important to highlight how the Games can be used to help world Ð from large-scale regeneration projects to environmental, social and economic legacies that have created positive change in local communities, host regions and beyond.Barcelona, for example, underwent a major transformation ahead of the 1992 Olympic Games, with more than 100 hectares of what had been industrial land being redeveloped to incorporate public facilities and the Olympic Village, which was converted into residential housing after the Games. The cityÕs seafront was also regenerated, while major ring roads and other transport infrastructure were put in place, providing lasting benefits for local residents. In addition to these improvements, the global exposure created by the Games also led to a significant boost in BarcelonaÕs tourism industry, with the city ranked as the 12th most-visited city in the world in 2015, and passengers at BarcelonaÕs airport rising from 2.9 million in 1991 to 37 million in 2014.AboveThe British public celebrate the awarding of the Games of the XXX Olympiad to London in 2005LeftLillehammerÕs Olympic facilities were designed to minimise impact on the environmentÔTHE EXISTING VENUES WERE CRITICAL TO OUR BID. YOU COULD SAY THAT THE 2016 WINTER YOG ARE BUILT ON THE LEGACY OF 1994’TOMAS HOLMESTAD, LILLEHAMMER 2016 CEOdeliver a cityÕs long-term development goals, according to Michelle Lema”tre, the IOCÕs Head of Sustainability and Olympic Legacy.ÒIf money is going to be invested by a city in an event such as the Olympic Games, then people in that city are going to want, and expect, to see a return on that investment,Ó she says. ÒIf a city has something to show from the Games, it demonstrates that the Games are worthwhile and theyÕre not just a great sporting competition; if they are approached in the right manner, they can be a catalyst for amazing things.ÓThese benefits can be seen in Olympic host cities throughout the 48 OLYMPIC REVIEW LEGACIES