‘’We will help ensure that the London 2012 Games touch the lives of people all over the world.’’

Sir Vernon Ellis, Chair, British Council.

The British Council sees the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games as a unique opportunity to make lasting connections between people from UK and around the world through sport, culture and education and is proud to be supporting the Cultural Olympiad and the London 2012 Festival.

As the United Kingdom’s international cultural relations body, the British Council provides opportunities for British and international artists to work together and showcase their work. We are able to offer these opportunities through the Cultural Olympiad and London 2012 Festival, working with a range of outstanding partner organisations in UK and around the world.

We are involving artists from all over the world. As part of River of Music, for example, we are working with an indigenous arts collective from Australia, linking with musicians from Wales, who share a common experience of the preservation of language and culture through music and song.

As part of Unlimited, we are supporting a collaboration between artists from North East Brazil and England which celebrates northern culture and spirit through street theatre and carnival.

Through the World Shakespeare Festival we are supporting a Tunisian modern day production of Macbeth, adapted and inspired by the events of the Arab Spring.

Through the International Architecture and Design Showcase 2012 we are working with London’s embassies and cultural centres, co-ordinating a three month season of events during the London 2012 Festival which will provide an insight into talent from all around the world.

The British Council has created a programme that draws together our strengths in arts, education and the English language to help make the Games a truly international experience. We are helping to fund and deliver International Inspiration, the official sports legacy programme. We are supporting a range of projects targeted at schools in UK and around the world which encourage young people to learn more about the Games. We are also providing English language learning materials through our English for the Games project. To find out more please click here.