Loughborough University Confirmed as Custodian of Spirit of 2012 Social Impact Archive

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(IN BRIEF) Loughborough University has been appointed as the official custodian of the Spirit of 2012 archive as the organisation prepares for its planned closure in January 2026. Founded to extend the social legacy of the London 2012 Games, Spirit of 2012 has spent more than a decade supporting community connection, inclusion and social cohesion across the UK. By transferring its archive to Loughborough University, Spirit’s extensive learning, evidence and resources will remain freely accessible to researchers, policymakers and practitioners. The partnership builds on a long-standing collaboration and includes plans to expand digital resources, develop an oral history archive and support future research into the social impact of events.

(PRESS RELEASE) LOUGHBOROUGH, 14-Jan-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — Loughborough University has been confirmed as the official custodian of the Spirit of 2012 archive, marking a significant new chapter for the London 2012 Games’ social legacy as the organisation approaches its planned closure later this month. The move ensures that Spirit of 2012’s extensive body of learning, evidence and insight will remain publicly accessible and continue to inform future work on social impact through events.

Founded in 2013 by the National Lottery Community Fund with a £47 million endowment, Spirit of 2012 was established to extend the social legacy of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Over more than a decade, the organisation has supported communities across the UK to strengthen connection, inclusion and social cohesion, using events as a catalyst for long-term positive change.

As planned, Spirit of 2012 will close in January 2026. The transfer of its archive to Loughborough University will preserve the organisation’s learning and ensure it remains freely available to policymakers, researchers, funders and practitioners focused on delivering social impact through sport, culture and major events. Alongside publicly available and widely used resources, the archive will also include a broader collection of unpublished materials, such as documents relating to organisational strategy and operations, creating a comprehensive record of Spirit’s work and impact.

With internationally recognised expertise in sport, events and social impact, Loughborough University will play a central role in safeguarding and expanding Spirit of 2012’s legacy. The university will maintain open access to existing resources while integrating the archive into its wider research environment, supporting future evidence-led practice and policy development.

The custodianship builds on a long-standing collaboration between Spirit of 2012 and Loughborough University. Over the past 12 years, university researchers have contributed to the delivery and evaluation of numerous Spirit-funded programmes, including the evaluation of Access Sport’s Flyerz Hockey programme and a feasibility study for a proposed UK Capital of Sport. Since 2023, academics have also worked as one of Spirit’s three Legacy Learning Partners, with projects such as In The Spirit Wood drawing on evidence from the Spirit Knowledge Bank to create digital storytelling resources that promote positive perceptions of disability and impairment from an early age.

Future plans for the archive include the development of an oral history collection to complement the existing Knowledge Bank and published website. This will further strengthen Loughborough University’s social impact partnerships, including its work with UK Sport, and ensure that Spirit of 2012’s legacy remains dynamic, relevant and accessible.

As part of the custodianship commitment, Loughborough University plans over the next three years to expand digital resources, convene thought leadership events and create new opportunities for collaborative research, ensuring the Spirit of 2012 story continues to evolve and inspire future generations.

For more information on Loughborough University’s Spirit of 2012 Legacy Learning Partnership, visit: https://www.lboro.ac.uk/schools/sport-exercise-health-sciences/research-innovation/research-spotlights/legacy-learning-partnership/

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Source: Loughborough University