The Civil Service plays its part in delivering success for the UK
The Olympics were a success - but there were fears it wouldn't be
Six months ago, in the Opening Ceremony as the flaming Olympic rings descended, I finally allowed myself the thought that “Yes, this really is going to be very good”. Six years earlier, it had all been rather different. Taking up post as Permanent Secretary at the Culture Department, one of Whitehall’s most interesting and smallest departments, but responsible for the Government’s role in the world’s largest event, it had felt hugely uncertain. Then, there were questions whether DCMS was up to it, whether Britain was up to it, for that matter. The nay-sayers predicted the Budget was going to sprawl to £20 billion (bn), it would be late and it would all end in tears.