British Prime Minister Tony Blair's wife, Cherie Blair, put her foot in it; when trying to make a joke in Australia during her book promotion tour.
The IOC delegation arriving in London, to judge London's worthiness to host the 2012 Olympic Games, will be asking what she meant when she told her audience:
"We are going to win the bid, what does Paris know about culture?"
Mrs Blair also managed to annoy New Zealand diners by mistaking the country for Australia.
The rules about "entertaining" IOC delegates are now very strict, since the money-for-cash scandal provoked by 2002 Winter Games hosts Salt Lake City. The hosts can only provide one "social" event during its visit.
In London the "event" will be dinner with Queen Elizabeth at Buckingham Palace. There was therefore further confusion, when it was reported that Downing Street would be putting on a "reception". The IOC contacted London for clarification.
In IOC terminology "reception" means food will be served, and following discussions between Lausanne and London the Downing Street event has been billed as a "working meeting".
No food will be provided when the IOC members meet Tony and Cherie Blair, culture secretary Tessa Jowell and London mayor Ken Livingstone.
How very dull!
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