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• Question by: James Cleverly
• Meeting date: 21 October 2009

Following on from the Cultural Olympiad, I feel that one of the most important principles that we can get across from the Olympic brand and Olympic spirit is that the pursuit of excellence need not necessarily be at the exclusion of mass participation. I think that is a very strong point to put across. I think if there is a way of tying in the Cultural Olympiad and the Sporting Olympiad so there is no gap. I am slightly worried, looking at some of the things we see with regards to the Cultural Olympiad that they are very cultural but...

• Question by: Dee Doocey
• Meeting date: 21 October 2009

In retrospect, do you regret perhaps not negotiating more robustly - I am choosing my words with care - with the IOC over some of its more elitist demands? For example, we spent vast amounts of money upgrading the transport system but it is insisting that nearly half the people have got the right to use the roads.

• Question by: Dee Doocey
• Meeting date: 10 November 2007

I am not arguing with the principle. I am just trying to understand how many of the 70,000 volunteer places will actually be available if the sponsors take up their allocation and do not decide to give them to the community. How many are going to be available for the community? Is it 60,000, is it 50,000 or is it 65,000?

• Question by: Dee Doocey
• Meeting date: 10 November 2007

I will come on now to sponsorship. There have been reports in the press that sponsors are going to get an allocation of tickets, which is perfectly understandable. I suppose you share my view and hope that it will not be like Wembley, where so many of the tickets are sold to people who have no interest in football and have their back turned to the game. My main concern is it is also reported in the press that staff of sponsors are going to get the opportunity to have some of the volunteer places. First of all I want...