Dome Watch

The weekly series that brings you the news Peter Mandelson wants kept from you: what's underneath the dome

A national debate has been sparked by controversy over the nature of Peter Mandelson's 21st-century balls. The futuristic game of Surfball he proudly introduced as the main attraction for the young in his Greenwich marquee already exists. In fact, it has been patented by an American, Kentaro Toyama of Yale University.

Since details of Mr Toyama's rival virtual reality game emerged, the Dome committee has changed its tune. It now claims the British version is something entirely different - but nobody is saying what.