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First 2012 Olympic venue unveiled | First 2012 Olympic venue unveiled |
(about 7 hours later) | |
The first sporting venue for the London 2012 Olympics has been completed with the end of construction at the Weymouth & Portland Sailing Academy. | The first sporting venue for the London 2012 Olympics has been completed with the end of construction at the Weymouth & Portland Sailing Academy. |
The £15m complex, which will also host the Paralympics events, was brought in under budget and ahead of schedule. | The £15m complex, which will also host the Paralympics events, was brought in under budget and ahead of schedule. |
The world-class facility will play host to 400 athletes completing in 10 Olympic sailing categories. | The world-class facility will play host to 400 athletes completing in 10 Olympic sailing categories. |
Ralph Luck, of the Olympic Delivery Authority, will join gold medalist Paul Goodison at the unveiling later. | Ralph Luck, of the Olympic Delivery Authority, will join gold medalist Paul Goodison at the unveiling later. |
The British sailing team's successes at the Beijing Olympics included a haul of six medals, four of them gold. | The British sailing team's successes at the Beijing Olympics included a haul of six medals, four of them gold. |
'Great news' | |
The early completion of the venue will give Britain's competitors a chance to train "well ahead of 2012", said Lord Coe, who chairs the organising committee. | The early completion of the venue will give Britain's competitors a chance to train "well ahead of 2012", said Lord Coe, who chairs the organising committee. |
Paul Goodison, who won gold in the Laser class at Beijing, said: "We save a lot of time travelling around the world when we can get out of bed and it is here on our doorstep. | |
"It is a fantastic opportunity, not just for myself, but some of the youngsters to see us in 2012 and aspire to 2016." | |
Councillor Howard Legg, Weymouth and Portland council's special projects portfolio holder, said: "It is ahead of time, on budget and opening today. | |
"It is great news for the community. | |
"This is a real local effort, and it is not just people involved with sailing. | |
"We have hoteliers learning different languages to help welcome people here in their own language." | |
John Tweed, chief executive of Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy, said: "With these enhanced facilities they [sailors] will really be able to hone their skills before the 2012 games. | |
"It is just a fantastic upgrade to what is already here." | |
A 656ft (200m) breakwater protects the new facilities with a new pier offering two yacht-lifting cranes and a pontoon providing 70 berths for race boats. | A 656ft (200m) breakwater protects the new facilities with a new pier offering two yacht-lifting cranes and a pontoon providing 70 berths for race boats. |
The start of construction, using 70,000 tonnes of Portland stone, was delayed to avoid disrupting the nesting season of over-wintering birds around the local coastline. | The start of construction, using 70,000 tonnes of Portland stone, was delayed to avoid disrupting the nesting season of over-wintering birds around the local coastline. |