A　response　is　presented　to　the　dilemma　of　hosting　resource-intensive　large-scale　sporting　events　at　a　time　when　requirements　for　sustainability　and　sustainable　development　must　also　be　met.　A　framework　was　devised　for　judging　development　and　design　issues　for　future　planning,　one　which　is　based　upon　extant　historic　evidence　from　host　city　experiences　as　well　as　previous　event　outcomes.　It　offers　potential　to　compare　plans　against　best/optimal　practice.　The　technique　for　appraisal　arises　from　a　detailed　analysis　of　Olympic　Games　held　since　1896.　Data　associated　with　venue　design,　construction　and　usage,　athletes＇　accommodation,　and　the　facilities　for　officials,　the　media　and　visitors/spectators,　were　amassed　and　reviewed.　An　evaluation　technique　was　produced　which　demonstrates　how　the　organizers　of　a　modern　Olympic　Games　can　assess　and　reflect　upon　planning,　design　and　development　decisions　associated　with　their　own　city　from　an　early　outline　stage.　This　should　permit　less　wasteful,　more　appropriate　and　more　sustainable　Games＇　infrastructures　to　be　considered　before　complex　detailed　development　occurs.