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Arts festival to ditch 'Cultural Olympiad' name because few understand it
Louise Jury, Chief Arts Correspondent29 Jan 2010
The leaders of the arts festival being planned for the 2012 Olympic Games are to ditch the name “Cultural Olympiad” because they believe few people know what it means.
Royal Opera House boss Tony Hall, who chairs the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad board, said: “I think people find the two words really difficult to understand. People say to me, What is it?' We want to bring clarity to it.”
He said the programme would be a showcase for the arts and “a festival of festivals”.
Plans include a Shakespeare festival, a youth music scheme and commissions from artists in every UK region.
All ideas will be reviewed by Ruth Mackenzie, the board's new director of culture.
