It's always been a tough job to link the London Olympics with culture. The Cultural Olympiad remains a mystery to most people in the UK, in contrast to the excitement building among sport fans as we head towards 2012.
Partly that's because the practice of awarding medals for art, architecture and music ended decades ago - with the London Games of 1948 . Partly it's because the Cultural Olympiad here, which was initially woolly and diffuse.
Judging by the claimed attendance rates versus the national awareness polls, many people attended a Cultural Olympiad event without knowing that's what it was.
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For towns and cities all over the UK, the arrival of the Olympic Torch will be one of the big moments of 2012.
And today we know where the torch will be making overnight stops on its 70-day journey, so stand by for evening celebrations in Belfast, Cardiff, Glasgow and Westminster - and also in Aberystwyth, Cleethorpes, Newry and Inverness.
As for what happens there, here's how Locog's media release describes it: " ... an exciting early evening celebration event ... will enable thousands of people each evening to enjoy a variety of entertainment and shows staged by Locog and the three Presenting Partners with the support of the host Local Authority.
"Each celebration event will differ with locally programmed content on the stage which will add to the celebratory atmosphere. Many thousands more people are expected to celebrate along the route each day."
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Whether you're a royalist or a republican, nobody can seriously disagree that the royal wedding was brilliantly staged.
With any event involving that number of people and locations, there's always the chance of a glitch. But this was an immaculate operation in the international spotlight.
It was interesting to hear the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, for the Olympics.
I'm not absolutely sure that's what William and Catherine saw as the primary purpose of the event.
But it is true that the royal wedding is a pointer to the kind of attention Britain will have for much of 2012 - including the Diamond Jubilee celebrations the month before the Games.
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I'm Roger Mosey, the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ's director of London 2012. That means I'm overseeing all the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ's 2012 preparations including not just sport but the Cultural Olympiad, our Olympic news and information services and everything that will bring the story of the London Games to audiences at home and abroad. I want to share here what we're planning - and debate some of the big issues. You can also follow me on .
