Director Mills to head Edinburgh Festival until 2014

Jonathan Mills was director of the Melbourne Festival during the Sydney Olympics

Edinburgh International Festival director Jonathan Mills is to remain in post until the 2014 event.

The Australian musician and composer took over as director in 2006, and presented his first festival the following year.

He said the opportunities offered by major sporting events like the Olympics and the Commonwealth Games, persuaded him to stay in the job.

Mr Mills was director of the Melbourne Festival during the Sydney Olympics.

The 2011 Edinburgh International Festival runs from 12 August to 4 September.

This year's programme is to be unveiled on 23 March.

Mr Mills said: "The opportunities that major sporting events - the Olympics, Paralympics and Commonwealth Games - offer the festival, Edinburgh and Scotland in 2012 and 2014 make my role as festival director particularly exciting.

"I am delighted that the festival council is entrusting these opportunities to me and I will bring all my experience as director of the Melbourne Festival during the Sydney Olympics to making the most of these."