Reading Festival Boss To Create 'Tent City' For 2012 London Olympics

A group of businessmen, including Reading Festival organiser Melvyn Benn, have unveiled plans to construct a “tent city” in the town during the 2012 Olympics.

The group believe that a facility complete with big screens would be able to cater for those people unable to get to Olympic events in London.

Reading is also well located for events scheduled to take place outside the capital, including the rowing at Eton and sailing competitions on the south coast.

Benn, of Festival Republic, told the BBC that the town's past experience of staging the Reading Festival and Womad proved that it would be able to cater for large crowds.

"This is a fantastic idea for Reading and Festival Republic look forward to working with the local council and local business to bring the Olympic celebrations to Reading,” he said.

The group, which also includes Reading football club chairman Sir John Madejski, must now consult Reading Borough Council before drawing up detailed plans.

Meanwhile, the line-up for this summer's Reading Festival is due to be announced next Monday (March 28).