The Unofficial Weymouth & Portland 2012 Olympic Blog

With the rush for businesses trying to associate with the Olympic games the London 2012 organising committee is at work with the IOC looking at ways the protect certain associated words such as ‘Olympic’ ‘London 2012’ and ‘Games’.

Mr Deighton describes association with the Olympic brand as the ‘ultimate corporate platform’ allowing companies to present a competitive edge, Experts have warned that history has proven the IOC will be very protective of their brand.

“Our priority is to protect the brand and association with it, so companies can maximise the benefits that come with such a distinctive association.”

As previously reported business seminars have already been held in South Dorset to give local businesses the knowledge on how to capitalise on the games coming to our town.

The Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy recently hosted and Olympics Roadshow, designed to highlight the long term benefits of hosting the sailing events.

Keith Mills, deputy chairman of London 2012 and Jack Lemley from the Olympic Delivery Authority were present.

Olympics Minister Tessa Jowell recently stated to businesses that they had a once in a lifetime opportunity to reap the benefits of hosting a global sporting event with the eyes of the world watching.

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She has also created the widest ever consultation for the tourism industry in an attempt to maximise the potential benefits of the 2012 Olympic Games, also unveiling a number of packages designed to support businesses in the run-up.

This included the Olympic Delivery Authority’s new procurement policy, which shows how the ODA procures and manages the delivery of goods and services to deliver new venues and infrastructure in a sustainable way, as well as the tourism consultation.

Poole’s hope of providing an Olympic training base for countries competing in the 2012 Olympic Sailing events in Weymouth have been slashed with SW England Director Guy Lavender stating “No sailing teams are going to want to prepare anywhere other then Weymouth & Portland”.

With this setback organisers have been keen to push the message that the sailing events can benefit the whole of Dorset, with key business contracts such as games-related services and accommodation likely to be the main opportunities.

Mr Lavender also stated that local people could volunteer to help the games and become involved in local projects. The London 2012 site has a volunteer signup page here

Olympic organisers have a vision of improved health, wealth and culture following the 2012 Olympic sailing events.

A presentation ‘lighting the flame’ was held at the Dorchester Corn Exchange and the National Sailing Academy on Portland. A 12 point ‘wish list’ of benefits for the county included improved transport links, economic links and a reduction in child obesity.

Questions from local businessmen, sports coaches and councillors on issues such as the Weymouth relief road, improving our sports facilities and business opportunities were also faced by the panel, including representatives from Sport England.

In the planning stages are world-class training camps by 2008, including a park-and-ride scheme for Weymouth, personally I think the solution is beyond a park-and-ride scheme, but it will help in addition to other transport improvements.

Worryingly Mr Lavender added that organisers would not find the proposed relief road essential for delivery of the games.

Anna Wallis, marketing director for an Event Management company, suggested to the panel that representatives from the Athens Games should give advice on how to utilise games associated business opportunities and what pitfalls to avoid.

South Dorset MP Jim Knight has recently been speaking at a Weymouth & Portland Chamber delegation regarding his views on the need for better transport links into Weymouth.

He described the short-term benefits the games will bring to travel and tourism in addition to the long term improvement to local services and facilities.

Jim also described Weymouth’s current transport system as a ‘key concern’ and went on to state that if he was a business owner relying on good transport links for business, he would ‘give up’ for three months or move out before business was bought to a halt. He also believes the current objections are ‘valid’ but also disproportionate compared with the overall benefits of an improved transport network.

Olympic consultant Tim Colman has recently put his weight behind the Weymouth relief road project with the stark warning that people could turn back due to the traffic queues, expected to be tailing up over ridgeway during the games should no relief road be provided.

It is his belief that the relief road is an essential factor in making visitors to the area leave as ‘happy customers’ and providing a positive effect for the region post the 2012 games.

Mr Colman’s comments were heard addressing a Business Link Wessex meeting, designed to ensure businesses make the most of the opportunities arising due to the sailing events being hosted here. He also suggested that ‘fan zones’ seen to work very well during the recent world cup could be hosted at the top of the ridgeway or other clifftop locations for those unwilling to enter Weymouth & Portland.

Up to 1200 sailors are expected to pour into Weymouth in the years leading to the 2012 sailing events.

Don’t worry! they aren’t buying houses here, but will instead take place in dress rehearsals designed to test the areas infrastructure and transport
2010 will be the first rehearsal with 800 sailors (double the 400 taking part in the 2012 olympics) taking part in a sailing competition.
The second and final rehearsal will be in 2011 when there will be 400 competitors visiting our shores.

The cruise liner ‘Braemar’, a Fred Olsen liner has been announced as the ‘olympic village’ for the sailors during the games. There is even talk of a second cruise liner being drafted in to house the athletes support staff, trainers and physio therapists.

The Braemar itself can hold 727 passenger and facilities include a gym, sauna, massage & treatment rooms, golf nets and a swimming pool!

Also Jacqui Gisborne, marketing and PR manager for the borough council has advised local businesses: “Don’t wait for the phone to ring. Start doing your market research now.

“Check out companies of a similar size and calibre in Sydney and Athens, talk to them and see how they went about hosting their guests for the Olympic period.

Local companies are being urged to start planning now for the 2012 Olympic Sailing coming to Dorset.

Olympic sailing at the Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy will be watched around the world as athletes converge on London and Dorset.

A Dorset Business spokesman said: “If you want to profit from the games, join us to think about how - if you think it won’t affect your business, come and find out why you are wrong.”

Business owners can find Dorset Business @ http://www.dcci.co.uk/

Even with six years left until the 2012 Olympics sails into our shores, work and strategies are already being planned behind the scenes to ensure the security of the sailing events and all who come to compete and watch them.

Several bodies are in place busy planning every aspect from transport to security, with the Dorset Police being a key member. Dorset Police’s Olympic co-ordinator David Griffith, once a member of the Notting Hill carnival planning team has been working on the Olympic challenge for the past six months said;

“Weymouth can be busy enough in the summer without putting the Olympic Games on its doorstep, lots of different people will bring different burdens. If we win gold and someone has a heart attack, how do we get that person out? All of that is being looked at against the background of an anti-terrorist operation.”

He also added; “It’s sensible for us to prepare as if it is a threat and if peace breaks out in the world in the meantime, we can scale down however the world’s cameras will be there. While there is no history in the last few years of terrorists attacking the Games, it would be wrong of us to say that was a given. If you look at the experience they had in Athens or Sydney, then huge numbers of spectators was not an issue for the sailing.”

The operation will be planned and executed by Dorset Police, although officers from other forces will be drafted in to help.

MP’s have warned that residents living in the towns and cities playing host to the 2012 Olympic games could potentially face massive traffic disruption as they set out plans to earmark up to 62 miles of road nationwide for Olympic use only during the games.

There was specific mention of Weymouth in the article however legislation will also incur a fine of £5,000 to anyone illegally using the Olympic traffic lanes.