The Cultural Olympiad

The Cultural Olympiad runs from the day after the Beijing Olympic Games in August 2008 to the end of the 2012 Games in London, the same period as the London Olympiad. The aim is to ensure that the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games are an inclusive event engaging people in the UK and from overseas and showcasing the wealth of opportunity and creativity across the UK.

The richness of UK cultural life was key to the London bid’s success as it embraced the founding principles of Olympism linking sport, culture and education. The Cultural Olympiad will involve people from all areas and backgrounds in a range of activities to complement the sports events and will run for the full period from 2008 - 2012.

Museums, libraries and archives therefore have a unique opportunity to be part of the Games, in the build up, during the Games themselves and beyond. The Museums, Libraries and Archives Partnership has launched its national vision for the Cultural Olympiad, Setting the Pace, and the East Midlands is developing its ideas and plans based on the national strategy and a widespread regional consultation.

The Cultural Olympiad will provide a great opportunity for museums, libraries and archives to work together to build on each others skills, ideas and inspiration to engage new audiences with existing collections across the region.

In March 2008 the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) released a background briefing paper regarding the development of the Cultural Olympiad, including the new process to open up the programme to community and UK-wide participation. This document can be downloaded below.

Cultural Olympiad background briefing (82 kb)