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As it is the year prior to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games I have decided to have a ‘word for the year’ (much like the use of animals in the Chinese calendar, but far less important) – and that word is ‘LEGACY’. In 2006 the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (LOCOG) delivered a breathtaking presentation to the members of the International Olympic Committee to win the right to host the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Central to the successful bid was the presence of a group of school children, a unique approach to the bid process, supported by the key message: Legacy for young people. Nearly 5 years on from that historic day (one of those moments where we can all remember where we were when we heard the news) and with only 18 months to the opening ceremony there is little evidence of Olympic legacy of any kind, let alone for young people. With an epidemic of childhood obesity and related co-morbidities combined with an unimaginable lack of physical activity evident in young people, the London 2012 Games was supposed to be our big opportunity, a chance to make a real difference. Instead all we get is rhetoric from those that should be delivering on their promise with the current debate entrenched in the question, “Whose responsibility is it to deliver legacy?” LOCOG tells us that it is the job of the Government to deliver on legacy. In contrast, the Government tell us it is LOCOG’s role. Whilst the ownership debate plays out in the media the palpable lack of legacy is farcical. In fact, not only are we witnessing the murder of Olympic legacy, the Government appear to be burying the body before the Olympics have even been hosted. Am I missing something or are the Government completely ignorant to the impact of their current arbitrary destruction of funding to Government departments particularly those involved with physical activity promotion? Even the Queen understands: The Christmas day message highlighted the importance of physical activity and sport in the development of community and health and well-being for young people. In contrast, we are witness to the destruction of physical activity promotion for young people on a grand scale including, for example, the removal of funding for the School Sports Partnership and free swimming. In addition, there are cuts unseen that impact on physical activity - for example the removal of funding for ‘Bikeability’ (formally Cycle England): No more cycling proficiency tests! We could end up with a less active population of young children despite hosting the London 2012 Games. Instead of scrapping the School Sports Partnership the Government should be increasing the funding for sport rather than focusing resources on maths and English (with the current Ofsted model schools are forced to concentrate resources in these key target areas). They should be securing the future health and productivity of the nation by highlighting physical activity. After all, the only reason obese, diseased, incapacitated children will need English and maths is to complete their social security application and count the payments. The Government has to recognise the importance of sport and physical activity promotion for young people and reinstate the funding to key programmes. Indeed, they should be increasing funding to these programmes, which with a long-term view (something governments on a 5-year cycle are reticent to do) will reduce the fiscal burden on society. But let’s not blame it all on the Government, after all the Olympic Games will generate significant revenues. LOCOG need to recognise their social responsibility and begin to look seriously at how they can promote a physical activity legacy for the entire country. On a positive note and as is fitting, the sport and exercise science community are trying to provide some light in the legacy darkness. As Chair of the Scientific Committee for the 2012 ICSEMIS Conference (formally termed the ‘Pre-Olympic Conference’) we are aiming to create the ‘Knowledge Olympics’ that will live up to the conference theme of ‘Inspiring a Learning Legacy’. The decision of the BASES Board to host their annual conference within ICSEMIS 2012 is a mark of BASES commitment to legacy. In defining the initial programme, however, there is one topic that has raised the temperature greater than any other within the organising committee: ‘LEGACY’. The reason for such divergent views on what is clearly a highly emotive subject is unclear but one thing is certain: Hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Games is truly a ‘once in a lifetime’ event; it would be a travesty to miss out on the opportunity of creating a lifetime legacy that delivers increased physical activity.