Oral question asked in the House of Lords, by Lord Addington (Liberal Democrat). It was answered on Thursday, 4 March 2010.

Olympic Games

Question: I thank the Minister for that reply. Will he indicate the Government’s thinking about the role of parts of government in allowing the party atmosphere to function, which was so commented upon in Vancouver and is still going on? Do the Government have strategies in place for making sure that various tiers of government allow the party to take place and that it is not constantly stopped by the NIMBY aspect which says, "We should have a successful Olympics provided that it does not inconvenience me in any way, shape or form at any time"?

Answer: These are important general considerations for the organisation of the Games. We are concerned that the Games are the London Games and predominantly take place in London, but we want the whole country to participate in and enjoy them. That is why we are placing great emphasis on preparation for the Games, the cultural dimension prior to them and the legacy after them. There is no doubt that Vancouver’s great success was its ability to canalize the enthusiasm of the Canadian nation for the Games. We need to do that for Britain in 2012.

Secondary information