Walk2012

A FORMER Weymouth schoolboy came close to finalising the route for the Olympic-inspired Walk2012 but fell ill in Dorset and caught the train home.

Mark Stanley and his partner Felicity Ford are calling for walkers to join their epic 180-mile stroll from the 2012 Sailing venue on Portland to the Olympic park in London next year.

Last weekend, a final walk through Dorset was set to put the finishing touches to the Walk2012 route but Mark was struck down by sickness and postponed the final section for two weeks’ time.

They will be walking from Ringwood to the Girl Guides’ Foxlease centre, which has been offered to the walkers to use during the walk next summer, through the New Forest and back to Ringwood.

Once completed, The Games Way will be finalised and Mark will start writing the guide.

Read the blog and sign up for the totally free walk at www.walk2012.co.uk

Sail for Gold

SPECTATORS wishing to experience the buzz of the medal race day at this year’s Skandia Sail for Gold Regatta are being urged to register for free tickets.

More than 1,000 spectators descended on the 2010 Sail for Gold and just one year out from the 2012 Games the buzz at this year’s event is set to be the biggest and best ever.

The regatta is run by the Royal Yachting Association at the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy, the host venue for London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic sailing regattas.

More than 1,067 sailors and 752 boats from 62 nations, plus 315 coaches have signed up to take part in Sail for Gold 2011 from June 5 to 11 – the sixth leg of the ISAF World Cup.

A Spectator Day on Saturday, June 11, will enable members of the public to experience the medal races with live commentary and giant screens, plus a Race Village offering stands selling branded goods, bars and refreshments.

Highlights will also include prize-giving ceremonies and the chance to meet and greet competitors.

To register for free Spectator Day tickets visit www.skandiasailforgoldregatta.co.uk

The Games

A SPORTS testing programme ahead of the home Games is set to start this summer called the London Prepares series.

London Prepares aims to test key aspects of the London organising committee’s operations ahead of next year’s Games – including results, scoring and timing systems, the fields of play, the venues and the people working to ensure the Games run smoothly.

Tickets are available for some of the events in the London Prepares series, offering the public the opportunity to be among the first to experience world-class sporting action at a London 2012 venue.

Events now on sale via Ticketmaster include: Hadleigh Farm Mountain Bike International, Essex: July 31 2011; Visa FIVB Beach Volleyball International, London: August 9-14 2011; London International Basketball Invitational, Olympic Park: August 16-21 2011; UCI BMX Supercross World Cup 2011; Olympic Park - London: August 19-20 2011.

Visit www.londonpreparesseries.com

• OLYMPIC site contractors working on the 34 Games venues including Weymouth and Portland are facing a crackdown on tax, National Insurance or national minimum wage breaches.

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has warned it will target contractors and employers working on construction projects for next summer’s Olympic Games who deliberately seek to evade tax and employment obligations, and punishment could include a heavy fine or criminal prosecution.

Mike Eland, HMRC’s director general of enforcement and compliance, said: “The Olympic and Paralympic Games represent a great opportunity for UK companies – but they must at the same time meet their tax and employment obligations.

“The message is clear – if you deliberately seek to evade tax, HMRC can and will track you down and you’ll face not only a heavy fine but possibly a criminal prosecution as well.”

Find out more at www.hmrc.gov.uk