Important not to forget that many events will be staged outside London. The football for example and of most concern to me - the sailing events.

These will be taking place locally - in Portland Harbour and the Local Authority responsible for the area is Weymouth and Portland Borough Council.

I can't help thinking that this event and its build-up - presents those of us who care about our traditional folk acts to show the world how little our Government values this.

Events locally over the last 5 years have demonstrated how little this particular local authority thinks of the folk arts and how poorly they have treated them - under current legislation.

We are presented with the opportunity to show the watching world how the new Licensing Act 2003 will require this local authority to issue Premises Licenses to (public) land that it is responsible for - to enable any form of outside entertainment to take place.

Also to show the Act's requirement for Local Authorities to prevent any non-amplified music being played for Morris dancing - when no dancing is taking place. For the same tunes - without the dancing - will be considered as Regulated Entertainment and illegal without a Premises Licence and its entertainment permission.