When London's selection as the next host of the Olympics was made in July 2005, Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell described the Cultural Olympiad as "absolutely central" to the vision of what could be achieved.

BBC: Cultural Olympiad plans unveiled

On Saturdays from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. they host a free wine tasting from their generous selection of mostly Italian bottles.

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Does someone from host city A have a long-standing friendship with a site selection committee member for event B, and if so, is that relationship strong enough to usurp the economic, financial, and logistical considerations raised above?

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Avram Grant, whose bottom-of-the-table West Ham host Blackpool on Saturday, also had no complaints with Holloway's selection.

BBC: I'll quit if I'm fined - Blackpool boss Ian Holloway

The host nation places for synchronised swimming depend on British athletes meeting British Swimming's selection criteria.

BBC: GB synchro swimmers get 2012 Olympic places