"I have sensed in the past few months, since the Government announced that the bigger-than-just-sporting ambitions of the London Olympic and Paralympic Games were to be met by a larger contribution from the National Lottery than originally envisaged, that some in the cultural community have begun to question the necessity of sport and culture remaining integrated in the goal of engaging more young people in both activities off the back of the unique catalytic power of the Games," he writes in his monthly column in The Daily Telegraph.

 

"There should be no doubt that they are stronger together than ploughing their separate paths, nor can there be antagonism between the two.

 

"Culture matters and is integral to the staging of an inspirational Games in 2012.

 

"It was one of the reasons we won in Singapore and when, in a few weeks, we launch our new brand, it will drive its values of inspiration, participation, stimulation and access.

 

"We will also push the frontiers of Olympic and Paralympic branding to try to help the cultural sector inspire more people into its ranks.

 

"But we will also take culture in the broadest of definitions, not just traditional arts but creative industries, heritage and science..

 

"We are currently preparing an extensive arts programme - the cultural Olympiad, which will run from the close of next year's Beijing Olympic Games.

 

"Our aim must be to bring Olympic ideals to life through a range of innovative events celebrating this country's rich cultural history.

 

"Pierre de Coubertin's vision for the modern Games was based on the inextricable link between sport, culture and education.

 

"It is upon this foundation that our Olympiad will be built and underpinned by a framework to help the sector to attract resources, both public and private, to take advantage of the greatest sporting and cultural celebration of an Olympic and Paralympic Games in our own backyard for the first time in 64 years."

 

The article can be read at http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2007/05/15/socoe15.xml.