 Oxford may get a cash boost to allow some projects to go ahead |
Ideas from Oxford's unsuccessful European Capital of Culture bid could help London's fight to host the 2012 Olympics. Arts Minister Estelle Morris is to visit Oxford on Thursday, officially to explain why Oxford lost out to Liverpool, and to look at how the county can benefit from the runner-up title of European Centre of Culture.
She will also be looking at the culture bid in detail, to see which ideas could be used and added to the London Olympic bid.
The successful bidder for the Olympics will be required to stage a "cultural Olympiad" in the three years up to 2012.
Cash boost
It could mean that Oxford gets money to allow many of the projects to go ahead, though possibly later than 2008.
The meeting with the minister for the arts will be held at the Oxford Playhouse at 1030 BST on Thursday.
Estelle Morris will be welcomed to Oxford by the chairman of the bid team "Oxford Inspires", Paul Langford and the Chief Executive, Robert Hutchison.
The centrepiece of Oxford's bid was a year-long "festival of festivals", including celebrations of everything from music and sport to religion and science.
Liverpool was announced as the UK's nomination on 4 June.
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