It has been too often forgotten that the Olympic Games originally included a festival of arts to accompany the sporting events. I was invited to help celebrate when London was put on the shortlist for 2012, alongside Madrid, Moscow, New York and Paris. I read Wordsworth's "On Westminster Bridge" to a jolly crowd of revellers who were also addressed by the Mayor of London and Sebastian Coe who has been heading the Bid committee. Jude subsequently got me along to a couple of meetings with other supporters of the arts to imagine in what ways London could present the arts during the Games. I suggested that every London theatre should host a foreign company of players, in parallel with the sporting visits. Jude favoured a Friend-Ship vessel which will sail the world before returning to the docklands close to where the Olympic Village will be built in East London.