The Cultural Olympiad staged during the London Olympic and Paralympic Games 2012, is a series of events, which aims to showcase the UK's arts and culture to the rest of the world. It was in September 2008, at the end of the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games, when the four-year London 2012 Cultural Olympiad started. Being the largest cultural celebration in the history of the modern Olympic and Paralympic Games, the Cultural Olympiad is designed to give everyone in the UK a chance to be part of London 2012.
It aims to inspire creativity across all forms of cultures, especially among young people. Making a real impact is the ultimate goal and so the legacy will last well beyond 2012.
Millions of people from all over the UK are already part of the Cultural Olympiad, through the Inspire programme and Open Weekend.
With a nation-wide festival in 2012, the Cultural Olympiad will bring together leading artists from all over the world to celebrate the cultural spirit of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
For further information on the Cultural Olympiad, visit London 2012