Commentary on Sections Part 3: National Lottery: Olympic Lotteries Section 22: Timing
66.Section 22 provides that an Olympic Lottery (i.e. a lottery designated as such by a section 6 licence) may only be promoted if London is selected to host the 2012 Olympics and must end if that decision is revoked, or if the Secretary of State makes an order for termination.
67.The International Olympic Committee (IOC) will decide, by vote, on 6 July 2005 which city should host the 2012 Olympics. While it is unlikely that a decision to award a city the right to host the Olympic Games would be revoked, this has been known (the 1908 Olympic Games were awarded to Rome but re-allocated to London after Vesuvius erupted in 1906).
68.Subsection (2) provides that a section 6 licence in respect of a designated Olympic Lottery must contain a condition prohibiting the promotion of that lottery unless the Secretary of State has by order declared that the IOC has elected London as the host city of the 2012 Olympic Games. Such an order, as is the case with one made by the Secretary of State pursuant to subsection (3) below, is to be laid before Parliament as required by section 36(3).
69.Subsections (3) and (4) address the circumstances where London is not awarded the Olympic Games, or having been awarded them, the election is revoked. When an order is made by the Secretary of State declaring that the IOC has elected a city other than London to host the 2012 Olympic Games or the award of the Games to London has been revoked, any licence operating an Olympic lottery shall cease to have effect in relation to that lottery and the National Lottery Commission may not grant a new Olympic lottery licence.
70.Subsection (5) enables the Secretary of State to end existing Olympic Lottery licences and prevent the granting of new Olympic Lottery licences. It is envisaged this power would be used after the 2012 Olympic Games have been staged by London as host city.