THIS weekend marks the first anniversary of the opening of the 2012 Olympics – which included the sailing events off Weymouth and Portland.

We will be looking back at the 2012 Olympics but also the legacy of the Games – how much of an impact they made and how much of a long term benefit the area has seen.

Over the coming week local Olympians will be sharing their memories and we will look at the effect of the games on sport, tourism, the local economy and transport and infrastructure.

We also want to hear from you with your memories of the Games and thoughts on their legacy. Email us here or post on Facebook or Tweet using hastag #dorsetlegacy to @dorsetecho

 

OLYMPICS related schemes helped pump £177 million of funding into the Weymouth and Portland area for facilities, regeneration and transport projects.

Schemes included the controversial traffic lights, a seafront rejuvenation project, broadband, bus and rail improvements and sports facilities.

Many schemes were already in the pipeline but given extra impetus by the Olympics or scheduled to finish in time for the Games.

They included the £87m relief road and transport scheme.

A transport package – including controversial intelligent traffic-light system – cost £15.5 million including £4 million investment in new bus services with bus stops and real time bus and car park information.

There was a £300,000 investment by Dorset County Council in a Dorset Traffic Control Centre and more than £50,000 worth of railway station improvements in Weymouth.

Other projects included almost a £40 million investment in improving broadband across Dorset.

Weymouth and Portland Mayor Ray Banham said the Olympics had left a ‘long lasting legacy’ in the borough.

“It is obvious this year that Weymouth and Portland has benefited from hosting the Olympic Sailing events.

“Last week I went out on the Condor Ferry and so many foreign visitors I spoke to were visiting the borough after seeing spectacular images of it during the Games coverage.

“The hotels are doing well, the beach has been crowded and traders are saying it is the one of the most successful seasons ever.

“We benefitted from an extensive road overhaul in 18 months when normally that would have taken 20 years.”

He added: “Many people do say they prefer the old transport system but I think the roads are perfect.”

“As well as an economic boost for town more young people are getting active and joining sports clubs in the area after watching the Sailing and other events last year.

“Overall the Games left a long lasting legacy in the borough which will continue to grow and improve.”

Traders and businesses were told to expect a boost to the local economy during the Games with higher visitor numbers and a lasting positive impact from the publicity.

But many traders and hoteliers in the town centre reported takings down as the predicted extra 30,000 visitors failed to materialise.

In the early stages of the Games the viewing arena on the beach was quiet and the Bayside festival behind the Pavilion collapsed.

Businesses on the seafront fared better and the town became busier as the Games went on – especially on the weekend Ben Ainslie won gold.

Weymouth and Portland has made an ‘extraordinary start’ towards an Olympic legacy, Lord Sebastian Coe has said.

Speaking on a visit to the borough, the chairman of the London Organising Committee for last year's Games said he wanted to thank ‘all of you, for the effort and for getting behind something that’s so tangible and goes beyond three weeks of sport’.

He added: “It is totemic of the spirit that will survive these Games.”

Lord Coe visited the Olympic Rings at Portland Heights ahead of the upcoming anniversary of the Olympic sailing events, and unveiled plaques at Portland Marina and the Fine Foundation Chesil Beach Centre.

ANTI LEGACY

Andy Alcock, secretary of the Weymouth and Portland Licensed Fishermen's and Boatmen's Association, said he has not seen any Olympic legacy in the harbour community.

He said: “The Olympics was a total disaster, in the last 13 years I've worked every year and the harbour was the emptiest I've seen.

“Visiting vessels stayed away and that's because they believed what LOCOG said that there would be millions of people and we ended up with an empty harbour.

“Things have continued to improve from where it left off last year and it's nice that people are coming back this year but I don't think that's because of the Olympics at all.

“Condor coming back and the sunny weather have helped businesses more than the Olympics.”

PROJECTS AND COSTS

  • Weymouth Relief Road including the park and ride site: £87 million.
  • Broadband improvements across Dorset: £40million.
  • Marina and marine workshops, built partly to serve Olympic & Paralympic preparations and services: £25million Transport package including intelligent traffic-light system cost £15.5 million including £4 million investment in new bus services with bus stops and real time bus and car park information.
  • Weymouth to Dorchester sustainable transport project: £2.4million.
  • Seafront regeneration: £3.5 million.
  • Chesil Beach Centre revamp, including a £550,000 award from the Heritage Lottery Fund: £1.1m Sport England grant to promote Weymouth and Portland as a tourism destination for fun and challenging sports: £450,000 Dorset County Council Traffic Control Centre: £300,000 Olympic Delivery Authority investment towards new walking and cycling routes: £160,000 Activity centre, including outdoor gym equipment and a children’s play park, at Redlands sport centre: £150,000 Railway station improvements: £50,000.
  • New cycle parking berths at Weymouth railway station and 80 ‘toast’ racks which are being distributed around Dorset providing 800 spaces: £22,000 OPENING CEREMONY/LOOK BACK THOUSANDS of people turned out to welcome the world to Weymouth and Portland at the opening ceremony last year.

After seven long years of planning, the Olympics finally got underway in July.

Weymouth beach was packed with crowds for the opening ceremony and the loudest cheers were reserved for the sailors of Team GB.

The opening ceremony followed a hugely-successful torch relay as of thousands of people turned out to welcome the Olympic Flame to Dorset.

People took to the streets for their once-in-a-lifetime chance to see the Olympic Flame pass through.

The torch relay entered the north of the county and criss-crossed Dorset before making a dramatic arrival by boat on Weymouth Beach.

Shooting star Peter Wilson fired the starting gun for the medal rush on his way to Olympic gold for Team GB.

The Dorchester-born shooter won the Double Trap Men’s contest.

Sir Ben Ainslie became the greatest sailing Olympian of all time as he secured a fourth successive gold medal.

Crowds flocked into Weymouth to watch him secure the title in what became known as ‘Ainslie Sunday’.

Team GB’s sailors were given a thunderous welcome as thousands of people lined the streets of Weymouth and Portland for an open-top bus parade.

A total of 15 Olympians, including the record-breaking Ben Ainslie, saluted the crowds as a convoy of police vehicle led the victory bus through the winding streets of the borough.

SPORTS FESTIVAL

The extravaganza is being held from Saturday July 27 to Monday August 5 with a host of activities and events.

The Weymouth and Portland ambassadors, who were on hand during the Olympics, are also back in action for the ten-day Dorset Festival of Sport.

The ambassadors will be providing information and guidance during the 10-day event.

It will include sports on the beach, a disability beach festival, youth football and rugby, a summer of fun day, volleyball and fireworks.

The sports will be on the beach on Saturday July 27 and Sunday July 28.

People will be able to try a number of different sports including beach volleyball, beach tennis, table tennis, kayaking and stand-up paddle boarding taster sessions provided by Ecover The Blue Mile.

  • A mobile skate park will also be on the Weymouth Pavilion forecourt for scooters and BMX bikes PANEL Saturday July 27 and Sunday July 28: Sports and taster sessions on Weymouth Beach provided by Ecover The Blue Mile. A mobile skate park will also be on the Weymouth Pavilion forecourt for scooters and BMX bikes.
  • Monday July 29: A Disability Beach Festival on Weymouth Beach from 2.30pm to 5pm.
  • Tuesday July 30: Youth football and rugby day with local teams.
  • Wednesday July 31: Weymouth College Summer of Fun day of water sports and youth team sports as well as cultural activities including music, dance, theatre workshops and sand castle making by Weymouth College staff and students Thursday August 1: Battens Charity Volleyball Championship Friday August 2 to Sunday August 4: The 30th RAF Weymouth Beach Classic championship.
  • Monday August 5: Fireworks display on Weymouth Beach

SEND US YOUR MEMORIES

We also want to hear from you with your memories of the Games and thoughts on their legacy. Email us here or post on Facebook or Tweet using hastag #dorsetlegacy to @dorsetecho