This Olympic bid was won in large part thanks to an extensive Cultural Olympics programme that was packaged in with the bid. The Olympics Committee cannot deliver this programme without a sizeable input from the community and voluntary/amateur arts communities ... and these are the groups most likely to suffer from the inevitable cuts in funding.

On top of that, you have moves such as the announcement (end of 2006 was it?) that Singing In Schools is a Good Thing and We Must Do More of It. I was warned of this announcement in the early autumn by someone 'in government'. He knew that HM Treasury was desperately looking for places to find more money for sports (read, "Olympics"). Instrumental music needs instruments; instruments are expensive; can't completely cut music; so ... promote singing! Truly: this was their thinking on this.

All this in the face of research (Mori, after the Commonwealth Games) that these mega sports events do NOT actually have a long term effect on people participating in sports. Also, research by Cardiff U. that mega sports events do NOT have a positive economic/social effect outside of the immediate region in which they are located. No news there, then. And of course the Powers That Be only use research which serves their purpose ...

Yeh. OK. Friday afternoon, and I've just sent similar comments on to National Campaign for the Arts. Peeing against the wind.

bah humbug
sian