MORE than 20 organisations have joined forces in Dorset to orchestrate the smooth-running of the sailing competition and associated events for the London 2012 Games.

The London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games has been described in organisation and resource terms as ‘the largest single project undertaken in the UK for over 70 years’.

A series of working groups in the county, collectively known as the Weymouth and Portland 2012 Operations Group, have the responsibilities of transport, visitors, culture, health and safety, communications, safety and security and volunteering.

Key contacts for each of the groups are bringing insight to their activities through a weekly column in the Dorset Echo.

Here’s Duncan Flint, Dorset 2012 public relations officer: WITH only 295 days to go the start of the London 2012 Games and the sailing events in Weymouth and Portland, our attention is turning more and more to the expected influx of visitors to the area during the summer of 2012.

Work has been progressing on the Live Site on Weymouth beach which will be able to accommodate up to 15,000 people showing TV coverage of sailing events taking place out in the bay as well as other Olympic sports. Another project that has progressed well is the Festival Area, a visitor experience that will host Dorset arts and crafts, exhibitions such as the Jurassic Coast, other attractions and entertainment, which will be located on the car park behind Weymouth Pavilion.

After a tender and selection process, an event management company has now been appointed to manage and promote the Festival during Games time 2012.

This week and next week Open4Business will be running a number of workshops aimed at local businesses who want to find out about travel and transport during the summer of 2012.

Promoted under the title Weymouth & Portland – Keep On Running, three workshops will be held in Portland at the Heights Hotel, today, at Weymouth Community Fire Station tomorrow and in Dorchester at West Dorset District Council Offices and County Hall, on Monday, October 10.

The 90 minute workshops will be run at various times during the day from 7am to 8.30am, 1pm to 2.30pm and 6pm to 7.30pm.

Places are limited but if you would like more information please visit o4business.co.uk Following our events this summer, the operations team will be running another series of public information drop-ins on the preparations for Games time in 2012 – these will be held in November in Dorchester, Weymouth and Portland.

Dates, venues and times will be published nearer the time. If you would like to receive details of these events please email london2012@weymouth.gov.uk This week Adecco, the official recruitment service provider for the London 2012 Games, announced the start of a recruitment process for up to 70 jobs that will be required to help run the sailing Athletes’ Village on Portland, which will be home to the 630 sailors and team officials in 2012.

For information about these job opportunities please visit locogrecruitment.london2012.com