London 2012 was the most sustainable Games, a watchdog has claimed.
Management of the live sites, London 2012's slow development of a comprehensive energy plan and the organisers' failure to use the opening and closing ceremonies to provide messages about sustainability all came in for criticism.
But overall the Commission for a Sustainable London 2012 (CSL2012) gave the event a thumbs up.
Such was London 2012's success in delivering against its sustainability pledges the watchdogs are calling for future British-based festivals and sports competitions such as the 2014 Commonwealth Games, the 2015 Rugby World Cup and the 2017 World Athletics Championships to follow its lead.
In its review, called London 2012 - From Vision to Reality, CSL2012 noted that ambitious sustainability targets such as zero waste to landfill and 70% waste to be reused, recycled or composted at London 2012 are on track thanks to attention to packaging and effective use of the colour coded three-bin system.
Transport at the games, which included the availability of a fully comprehensive mobility service for the first time, was a success. Comprehensive public transport options and effective planning saw minimal disruption to Londoners, concluded CSL2012.
It also said there was a wide variety of healthy, sustainably sourced, affordable meals available at most London 2012 venues. The CSL2012 said it was "disappointed" that many of the live sites refused to allow spectators to bring their own food. This compromised "affordability and the principle of creating an event for all budgets", it said.
Games-time carbon savings are on track to be met but London 2012's slow development of a comprehensive energy plan meant that "opportunities were missed for even further carbon reductions".
The lack of information available about the venues, village buildings and infrastructure was described as a "missed opportunity" for communicating their sustainability credentials to visitors.
CSL2012 chairman Shaun McCarthy said: "I have no hesitation in confirming that London 2012 has delivered the most sustainable Games ever, and we congratulate the delivery bodies and all those who contributed to this excellent achievement. But we mustn't rest on our laurels - more could be achieved if London's lessons, both the good and the challenging, are heeded by others."
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