A KEY figure from the British Olympic Association praised Weymouth and Portland residents for their support during a visit to assess preparations for the 2012 Games.

BOA chairman Lord Colin Moynihan celebrated the quality of the borough’s Sailing academy and the wealth of talent among the British team when he attended Skandia Sail for Gold regatta yesterday.

Lord Moynihan’s visit came as part of a tour of the 26 Olympic and Paralympic sports which will form the world’s greatest sporting spectacle next year.

At the invitation of the Royal Yachting Association, he participated in a series of activities with the national governing body for sailing and its official sponsors, Team GBR sailors and the Organising Committee team from Rio 2016.

The former politician and Olympic coxswain told the Dorset Echo: “This is my first visit to Weymouth and Portland as chairman of the BOA to assess the preparation for next year and to see what we can do first and foremost on the water. Our top priority is the athletes and the team is performing well across all 10 Olympic classes and three Paralympic classes. The organisational support is outstanding, the sailing team manager Stephen Park is one of the best in the world and there’re high hopes for sailing next year.”

Lord Moynihan was ‘very impressed’ with the new infrastructure spend on the road and the clear support for the event in the local community.’ He acknowledged concerns about the road being built and the planning applications to stage a spectator site but said: “Let’s move on and back the team and make sure sailing delivers a key component to the success of Team GB next year. The turning point has arrived, it’s almost a year to go and people are now really focusing on the huge impact of this regatta and the test event in the summer. People’s attention is really beginning to move from all the infrastructure changes to what’s happening on the water.”

He gave this message to borough residents: “Thank you for your support, thank you for your imagination, make sure it builds to even greater levels to back the team.

“We appreciate the impact on the local community but it’s an impact that will have benefits for young people, able-and-disable bodied and for people throughout the United Kingdom to which local people have really contributed.

“It’s very important to get local people to feel enthusiasm and really motivated, there’s no question it’s putting Weymouth and Portland on the map, it’s a great legacy for sport here to support young sailors in the future.

“The whole programme is being driven for the interests of the local community.

“Weymouth and Portland has a huge maritime history and now it has a great maritime future.”

Free tickets for sailing spectacular

ALREADY firmly established as one of the world’s premier Olympic Classes events, this year’s Skandia Sail for Gold Regatta carries even greater significance as the world’s best sailors battle for supremacy in the same venue for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

All 10 Olympic and three Paralympic classes are being contested across seven courses in Weymouth Bay and Portland Harbour.

Today members of the public are invited to attend a Spectator Day at the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy where there will be live commentary and giant screens, 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 tickets at skandiasailforgoldregatta.co.uk