Lloyd-Webber's wrong, Games visitors will flock to London

Passionate: Jeremy Hunt feels the Games will be a triumph
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Police will "crack down very hard" on protesters who try to disrupt this summer's Olympic Games, Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt warns today.

In an interview with the Evening Standard he said peaceful demonstrators will always be welcome but any group that threatens the smooth running of London 2012 will be dealt with severely.

"Should those protesters wish to do anything that interferes with the enjoyment of other people, then the police will crack down very hard," he said.

"If anyone tries to disrupt the smooth running of the Games or do anything that interferes with the enjoyment of millions of people who will be coming to London for this very special summer, then the police will have our full support in clamping down.

"At the same time we absolutely want to respect people's democratic right to protest."

Such comments will alarm civil liberties campaigners - but with six months to go before the opening ceremony, the Culture Secretary is passionately determined to do whatever it takes to make the Games a resounding success.

As he evangelised about the excitement ahead, he made clear he has no truck with doubters and cynics - including those hoteliers and restaurateurs grumbling that their usual summer trade could fall off.

"I've never heard such nonsense in my entire life," he hooted. "This is going to be the most incredible summer in London's history. For six weeks we are going to be the centre of global attention.

"You couldn't design something more successful at filling up London hotels, London restaurants and London theatres if you tried."

However, he is acting to meet their concerns - with a £4 million TV advertising blitz to persuade Britons to go to London rather than the Costa del Sol in August and a discount scheme to fill up hotel rooms abandoned by some regular tour companies.

Among the major cultural figures he has had to placate is composer Lord Lloyd-Webber, who recently predicted "a bloodbath of a summer" for London theatres and said three musicals would not bother with performances during the Games.

"I've had a drink with Andrew and I hope I've buried the hatchet with him about the Olympics," said Mr Hunt. "I think he was concerned but I feel he does understand there is so much going on culturally that London is going to be packed."

To other doubters he is more blunt: "Don't moan - get on board with the biggest ever campaign to get
people to come to London. Of course it will be a different set of customers from normal. But all the people who go to Olympic events are going to want to go to restaurants.

"Many will go to cultural attractions as well, whether it's the World Shakespeare Festival at the Globe, Gustavo Dudamel at the South Bank, Picasso at the Tate or Freud at the National Portrait Gallery.

"This is a year on which London hoteliers will look back and say, 'We're so lucky to have assets in our city that can really make the most of what is happening'."

Mr Hunt, 45, is a rising star of David Cameron's generation, a Right-winger and born communicator seen by some as a future leader.

He is the son of Admiral Sir Nicholas Hunt, former Commander-in-Chief Fleet of the Royal Navy, was head boy at Charterhouse and achieved a first at Oxford.

But his career path was less orthodox. He had a short spell as a management consultant before quitting to teach English in Japan for a while, then struck out into PR and publishing.

He said helping to organise the Olympics was "a big eye-opener", particularly the need to depend on 200,000 people to deliver their part. "I suppose that's no different from General Sir David Richards who is responsible for our Armed Forces," he mused.

He admitted the controversy over banker bonuses could spill over to the Games. "There's always a danger that people will resent privileged treatment for Olympic sponsors, but what I would say is that sponsors are paying 700 million quid towards the Olympics, which is a third of the cost," he said.

"If they weren't paying then we as taxpayers would be having to contribute a lot more. It's the kind of corporate behaviour we want to encourage."

For him, the great sporting rival is Australia. He said: "If you talk to most Brits they will say victory over the Aussies is the one they would savour the most. Fingers crossed."

Then there is the heated contest for who will take over the Olympic Stadium at Stratford when the Games are over.

Mr Hunt has bad news for West Ham United supporters: their club is not a shoo-in after all. "It's by no means a foregone conclusion that it will be West Ham or any football tenant," he said. "We're confident of some very strong non-football offers to weigh up against one or two football offers as well. We'll choose the best one."

He heaped praise on the 02, formerly the Millennium Dome, for its busy programme of concerts and mixed sporting events - calling it "the best example of a very successful transformation of a venue that doesn't involve football".

There are 16 bids for the stadium in play, including at least one that involves plans similar to the 02.

His own Olympic hero is rower Steve Redgrave "for his modesty". One of the nice things about Olympians, he said, is that they often achieve fame while being still "untouched by celebrity".

He refused to tip any of this summer's hopefuls, saying "I think it could be the kiss of death."
With one exception. "There is someone in the Team GB cycling team called Jeremy Hunt - and I'd love him to win a gold medal."

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