London 2012 Olympic Games: Accessibility review for deaf and deafblind people

The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) was mandated to ensure that it delivered the most accessible Games possible. As part of this, LOCOG aimed to establish new equality and inclusion standards for future sport event organisers to aspire to and achieve. The overarching aim of this deaf-led report is to share deaf people’s experiences with sport event organisers and suppliers to improve communication access for deaf people at future sporting events.

The accessibility review for deaf and deafblind people focuses on lessons learned both prior to and during the London 2012 Games. This report outlines highlights and successes of the London 2012 Games, as well as key challenges that future sport event organisers and suppliers can learn from.

The report also provides a breakdown of recommendations, approved by a consortium of deafled organisations and organisations working with deaf people. The most pertinent lesson that LOCOG has learned is the need to work closely with these organisations at the commencement of any projects in order to avoid deaf people enduring negative experiences at later stages.