Positive urban impacts of the Olympic Games are often publicized but seldom evaluated empirically. Through analysis of Olympic transport plans and expert interviews, this paper tests whether transport measures implemented during the games were sustained in four host cities. The paper consists of three main parts. The first provides an overview of the challenges the Olympics impose on urban transport systems, primarily in terms of passenger transport. The second part reviews the long-term transport goals each city intended to achieve through the Olympics and categorizes transport measures implemented to handle the Olympic peak demand. The third part analyzes comparatively how the cities changed and, in particular, which of the measures that supported the passenger operations were sustained. Although planners, governments, and residents intended to use the Olympic Games as a catalyst for lasting transport improvements, actual implementations were mainly temporary. Only in a few instances did Olympic efforts lead to lasting benefits for urban transport systems. The paper suggests a long-term, comprehensive planning strategy for using the Olympics as a catalyst for change to sustain the momentum the games give to a host city.