Research of sports facilities and infrastructures is a relatively new area of research, which concerns the challenge to create optimal, yet affordable and sustainable for facilities for athletes of all levels to train and compete in. At the same time there lies a challenge to offer the spectators the ultimate viewing experience, which can be brought about not only by create the facilities for mega events such the Olympic games, but also by augmenting the spectators’ experience by giving the spectator real time information on the athlete’s performance. The latter is closely linked to the theme ‘Measuring, feedback and simulation’, only now the performance data is used to add an extra dimension for the spectator.

Within the creation of facilities for athletes to compete in, research questions focus on creating a sustainable sports infrastructure, and optimal conditions for physical activity in terms of humidity, temperature or dust.

At the faculty of Architecture there is a vast amount of experience in the design of sport facilities for mega events such as World Championships and Olympic Games.

Sport is increasingly seen as a central strategy for cities to promote their image and global position, undertake regeneration and tackle problems of social exclusion. Governments increasingly use sports events to influence city development in a more comprehensive way, combining economic, social, environmental and other concerns. Cities are challenged by a gigantic and complex task after the events such as how to deal with the post-use of large event venues and facilities and how to sustain event legacy to facilitate urban development.