An urban sociologist from the University of Calgary says Calgary transformed the Olympics from an elitist event to an urban festival when this city hosted in 1988.

Harry Hiller tells The Calgary Sun Cowtown helped the Olympics discover street life and citizen participation, which varies from city to city.

And he says when he looked at the 2010 winter games in Vancouver, by the time they wrapped, 80 per cent of Vancouverites thought it would have a positive impact on the city.

Hiller believes the event could have a similar effect on London, but these games will have a very different vibe.