Stakeholder’s perceptions on the impact of the Olympic legacy on young people in east London

Set against declining activity in children and adolescents in the UK, the London 2012 Olympic legacy looked to increase youth participation and regenerate a deprived area of London. Five years on, there has been little change. Using a qualitative hierarchical ‘stakeholder theory’ framework, eleven key internal and external stakeholders, from a young athlete to a governmental policy maker were interviewed, to explore their perceptions of the legacy. Thematic analysis identified six themes; a shared ‘feel good factor’, a perceived positive impact of regeneration, youth participation impacted by funding cuts, a need for suitable role models, failure to recognise barriers to participation and inadequate planning to deliver ambitious participation targets. These outcomes have implications for future youth participation planning, policy and delivery.