asked Her Majesty's Government:

What activities and celebrations are planned to mark the beginning of the Cultural Olympiad following the Olympic handover ceremony on 24 August 2008 in Beijing; and [HL152]

What activities and celebrations are planned to mark the Cultural Olympiad during its first year; and [HL153]

What involvement they are seeking from the arts or other organisations and individuals to mark the beginning of and during the first year of the Cultural Olympiad. [HL154]

These are matters for the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, which is currently developing plans to launch the Cultural Olympiad in the autumn of 2008. It is also working to develop a number of projects that form the Cultural Olympiad, and which involve a range of arts and cultural organisations. Some of these projects may take place in the first year of the Cultural Olympiad. Others will develop over the four years of the programme.