Weymouth & Portland set to be first venue ready for 2012

Construction work has started on the first venue outside of the Olympic Park for the London 2012 Games with work now underway to enhance the sailing facilities at Weymouth & Portland.

The Olympic and Paralympic Sailing events in 2012 will be hosted at the Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy (see photo) which offers world-class facilities and some of the best small boat sailing conditions in the world. The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) and its contractors Dean & Dyball have now started work to enhance the existing sailing facilities with the construction of a new permanent 250m slipway and new race-boat parking, lifting and mooring facilities.

The ODA has developed the construction plans in close consultation with Natural England to avoid disrupting the local environment and wildlife. The initial set-up on site for the enhancement works took place in January but the start of construction was deliberately held back and programmed to start now to avoid disrupting the nesting season of over-wintering birds around the local coastline.

With work now underway and the enhanced facilities due to be completed by the end of 2008, Weymouth & Portland is on track to be the first venue ready for the 2012 Games, delivering an early legacy of world-class facilities for elite athletes and the local community to use.

ODA Chief Executive David Higgins and Chief Executive of the London 2012 Organising Committee (LOCOG) Paul Deighton today visited the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy to have a tour of the existing facilities and to visit the construction site for the enhanced facilities.

ODA Chief Executive David Higgins, said:
“The start of construction on the first venue for 2012 is an important step forwards and it is significant we have hit this major milestone in Weymouth & Portland, showing 2012 will be a nationwide Games with sporting and economic benefits spread around the country.

“With work due to be completed by the end of 2008, Weymouth & Portland will be one of the first venues ready for 2012 keeping us on track to deliver an early legacy of world-class facilities for elite athletes and the local community to use well ahead of 2012.”

Chief Executive of the London 2012 Organising Committee, Paul Deighton said:
"This scheme will transform Weymouth and Portland from an existing top class venue into a world class training and competition venue equipped to stage further major international sailing events and competitions after the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The enhancements will also provide new opportunities and facilities to enable people from a wide range of backgrounds and abilities to experience the thrill of sailing. This will leave a legacy of elite and recreational sailing for future generations."

Jim Knight MP for Dorset, who joined today’s  Weymouth & Portland visit, said:
"There is great excitement in Portland and Weymouth that we will be hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Games, it should be no surprise therefore that we are ahead of the rest in being the first to start construction of the 2012 facilities. We will be hosting one of our most successful Olympic and Paralympic sports and will make sure the quality of facilities will match the standard of our competitors."

Jane Henderson, Chief Executive of the South West RDA  which bought the Osprey Quay site in 2000, said:
“The 2012 Games is estimated to bring £1.7 billion to the South West economy. Helping to achieve that is the regeneration of Osprey Quay as a global centre for sailing excellence and a magnet for leisure and marine industries. It will leave a lasting legacy long after 2012 and help unlock the area’s business potential.”

Bill Ludlow Chairman of Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy said:
“I am delighted and extremely proud that the Academy will be first 2012 venue to be completed. Our already impressive facilities have been providing tangible benefits for the UK’s top sailors and the local Dorset community for the last ten years. The Academy’s Olympic legacy programme is already well underway and the completion of these works will deliver an even better sporting facility that is accessible and affordable for all. Great Britain has an outstanding history of sailing excellence and we are keen to provide the means for as many local people as possible to get out on the water and experience this great sport.”

Andy Crawford, Dean & Dyball Regional Managing Director said:
“Dean and Dyball has been involved with many of the south coast’s important projects during our long history of working in the area. It therefore, gives me particular pleasure that we are able to play a key role in what is perhaps one of the most high profile projects to have taken place here in recent times. Looking back in years to come will give all those involved in its construction, a great sense of pride.”

The ODA’s enhancement works at Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy involve reclaiming 18,000m2 of land in front of the venue using 80,000 tonnes of local Portland stone. Approximately 250m of slipways and ramps will then be constructed, together with a new pier offering two yacht lifting cranes. In front of the pier, a new pontoon will be constructed with 70 berths and the enhanced facilities will be protected by a 200m breakwater.

In recognition of the environmental aspects of the design of stage of the ODA’s enhancement works, the project was today awarded the CEEQUAL Excellent Award (Civil Engineering Environmental Quality Assessment and Award Scheme). CEEQUAL assesses the environmental quality of civil engineering projects - a civil engineering equivalent to the BREEAM awards for buildings. The CEEQUAL Excellent Award was today presented to ODA Chief Executive by CEEQUAL Chairman Eric Hughes.

Dean & Reddyhoff, developers for the South West Regional Development Agency (SWRDA), are also well underway on work on a new 560-berth commercial marina at Osprey Quay of which 250 berths will be used during the 2012 Games. The marina will include retail and industrial development bringing enormous social and economic regeneration to the local area.

The London 2012 Organising Committee also announced today that a Sport Competition Manager has been appointed for the sailing events at Weymouth & Portland during the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Rob Andrews will be responsible for all the planning, organisation and management for the sailing events at the Games, and brings a wealth of experience in Olympic sailing having been involved with the British team since the 1984 Los Angeles Games. The London Organising Committee is in the process of appointing competition managers for all sports in the Olympic Games and for most of the sports in the Paralympic Games.

Notes to editors:

1. Photos of the 2012 visit to Weymouth & Portland will be available from the ODA press office
2. The Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy (www.wpnsa.org.uk) is a world class sailing venue. WPNSA promotes the sport of sailing to all levels of competence and ability, through courses, training and events, whilst supporting and working closely with the local community. WPNSA hosts a number of high profile regattas throughout the year with conference and event facilities. For further information contact  Helena Searcaigh or Cailah Leask, Fast Track Sailing (PR to WPNSA), on Helena.searcaigh@fasttracksailing.com / + 44 (0) 207 593 5239 or Cailah.leask@fasttracksailing.com / + 44 (0) 7785 294 321
3. The South West of England Regional Development Agency acquired the Osprey Quay site after the Royal Naval Air Station closed in 1999. Its aim is to regenerate the 33-hectare site and create jobs through marine sector employment. Major works have been carried out to provide roads, infrastructure and flood defences. The site has since been developed to accommodate a range of new employers, and this will be further extended though the development of the remainder of the site covered by the original master plan, plus the additional Tank Farm land acquired from Portland Port, which will be developed for employment use after the London 2012 Games.

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For further information please contact the Olympic Delivery Authority Press Office on +44 (0)203 2012 700 or visit the website at www.london2012.com