THE starting gun will fire to signal the start of Olympic Sailing two years from today.

Events took place across the country on Tuesday to mark the official two-year countdown to the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Games.

The sailing events will start two days after the opening ceremony and a total of 380 athletes will be competing on the waters of Weymouth and Portland for 10 gold medals until racing ends on August 11, 2012.

Up to 100,000 people are expected to descend on the borough for the two weeks of the Games’ sailing events and preparations are well under way.

Alongside the completed 2012 venue at the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy, developments along Osprey Quay with Portland Marina and RYA Portland House have rejuvenated the former Royal Navy air station site.

A new performance training centre for British sailors has benefited Dorset’s Olympic hopefuls.

These include double gold medallist Sarah Dempsey, of Wyke Regis, whose aim is to make history and achieve a third gold medal on her home waters in the 470 class with crew Saskia Clark.

Her husband, and World RS: X windsurfing champion, Nick Dempsey is also determined to go for gold, following his devastating slip from first to fourth place at the Beijing 2008 Games’ medal race.

Team Volvo for Life sailor Nick said: “I never thought we’d get the bid and I just thought ‘wow wouldn’t it be absolutely amazing if we got it, this will make my life, this will be the crowning glory of everything I’ve done.’ “I knew I’d be 32-years old when it came to Weymouth, that I’d be at the top of my game.

“I thought ‘I can win that Olympic gold medal and I can do that at Weymouth.’ “That to me was pretty amazing and the cheer and joy of everybody in the room was amazing, it was really quite a special moment.”

Councillor Howard Legg, borough council spokesman for special projects, said the 2012 bid announcement five years ago had resulted in ‘huge benefits’ for the borough.

These include the £87.4million Weymouth Relief Road, on track to be completed by spring next year, and faster broadband internet connection invested in Portland by BT.

He said the major traffic works programme in the resort would benefit residents and businesses ‘although it’s painful at the moment.’ The ‘complete development of Osprey Quay in a relatively short space of time’ and a ‘huge amount of private investment’ in leisure facilities, a world-class sailing venue, marine offices and jobs were also named.

Coun Legg said: “Our profile has increased without a shadow of a doubt as highlighted by our recent TripAdvisor award.

“Local businesses taking advantage of new opportunities presented by the Games include Southwell Business Park on Portland who are offering bespoke storage facilities for watersports enthusiasts.”

The council has been working with Paralympic athletes and Disability Wessex to ensure the needs of disabled competitors and visitors are met during the Games.

Coun Legg said Weymouth and Portland residents could expect to see the borough wearing its ‘best dressing by 2012’ as part of an ‘Olympic UK look.’ He said: “Basically, it will be a party and we’re getting dressed up for it.

“Heathrow will be dressed, London will be dressed, we don’t know the finite details of exactly what it will be, it could be banner flags, railing or building wraps.

“In the build-up we’re still developing the Spirit of the Sea festival and looking to take forward the ‘events village’ around Weymouth Pavilion, getting that dressed during 2011.

“We’re looking for it to have a real mixed use, celebrating Dorset’s food, heritage, culture, Jurassic Coast, entertainment, have-a-go activities and lots more.”

Coun Legg added: “As soon as they announced that London had been successful in its Olympic bid in 2005, this area was never going to be the same again.

“What the borough council is focused on is ensuring any change delivered is right for the community and business community and, more importantly, its sustainable.”