The legacy of the Olympic Games proofs to be problematic for many former host cities. A legacy most of the cities were after when bidding for the Games, only with a different outcome in mind. Large-scale urban areas within cities with empty stadiums and Olympic parks as a result. The post – Olympic period offers to little demand for the created venues and public space. Liveliness in these public spaces is far to be found and the vitality of the Olympic accommodations was an experience short lived. Planning of the Games succeeded in the part of organising the Olympic Games but failed to generate a legacy with long-term perspectives. This research investigates how future Olympic host cities can create their legacy before hand and control its outcome after the Games. This has resulted in this master thesis which presents further deepening of the understanding ‘legacy’ with its three main pillars of social – cultural, financial – economic and physical – environmental aspects. Further focus on the more tangible physical – environmental pillar with the identification of 5 key variables. Variables that create footing for liveliness and vitality to arise derived from urban planning perspectives. These variables are urban planning, mobility, routing, scale and programme. Apart from identifying these variables a model is presented that connects these variables with the process of urban area development and Olympic development with the organisation to control the overall realisation of legacy development.