OXFORD is to be at the centre of a £1m spectacular to celebrate the Olympic Games.

The city has emerged as an early Olympic winner after being chosen to host a pre-Olympic party, sparking hopes that the Olympic torch will come to the city as the climax of the event.

News that Oxfordshire has been chosen to host a major celebration will be announced later today at London’s Royal Festival Hall, by The Legacy Trust UK, the body created to ensure a cultural and sporting legacy from the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The Legacy Trust chief executive is to announce four winning projects, only two in England, that will receive substantial funding to stage “large scale outdoor celebrations”.

The winning South-East regional bid, which includes Oxford, has been led by Oxford Inspires, the city’s cultural development agency.

A series of events will take place at locations along the River Thames between June and September next year.

Events will be held in Oxford, Henley, Reading, Windsor and Slough — but it is understood that the main finale is likely to be held in Oxford.

Sites being considered for the big finale are known to include Christ Church Meadow, the Kassam Stadium, Blenheim Palace and Stonor Park, near Henley.

The finale will see the performance of a new piece of music and involve 40 groups of performers.

Legacy Trust UK will be investing £750,000 into the project with Arts Council England to contribute £200,000.

The East Midlands is the only other English region among the winning projects, the others being in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Dugald Mackie, chairman of Legacy Trust UK, said: “These celebrations will help spread the magic and excitement of the 2012 games outside London and leave a lasting legacy.”

There will now be speculation that one of the Oxfordshire events could be marked by the arrival of the Olympic torch.

To be known as The Tree of Light, the centrepiece of the project will be a giant sculpted tree, powered by energy generated by cyclists and rowers.

Scott Cridland-Smith, spokesman for Oxford Inspires, said: “There will be a strong educational aspect of the programme, with schools and community groups from across the region working with environmental scientists and professional from the world of visual arts, music and dance.”