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FIRMS were today urged to join the Spirit Top 100 of sponsors for a major maritime-themed festival in Weymouth and Portland.

The borough is hosting its first Spirit of the Sea Maritime Festival on July 5 to 13.

It will combine many of the area's existing marine-themed events with new ones.

Now businesses are being urged to help make it a success by signing up to a Spirit Top 100 sponsorship package.

Festival chairman and Dorset 2012 legacy manager for Team Dorset Gary Fooks said: "The response to the Spirit festival since the launch event in February has been inspiring and encouraging.

"Many offers of support from businesses have been received plus a considerable amount of interest to be a part of the first ever Spirit event this July. To respond to this overwhelming reaction we are launching the Spirit Top 100."

One hundred Spirit of the Sea sponsorship packages are on offer to businesses based in Dorset.

Organisers said that sponsors will be promoted in association with 'what will become an established annual event'.

The festival is also aimed to be a 'lasting legacy of the borough hosting the sailing events for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games'.

Mr Fooks said: "In 1972 Germany was the Olympic host nation, with Kiel hosting the sailing events.

"Thirty-five years on, they now have the biggest cultural, musical and maritime festival in northern Europe, which attracts 80 million Euros into the local economy over a 10-day period.

"Kiel has proved that legacy and economic benefit can be achieved and we want to do the same in Weymouth and Portland."

The sponsorship package costs £275. Benefits are listed as the 'opportunity to be part of the Spirit Top 100 business team that will help drive the event forward' and a website listing on the official website, www.spiritofthesea.org.uk Sponsors' logos will be included on the Spirit sponsorship board, which will be used as a backdrop for publicity. Businesses will also be able to use the Spirit of the Sea logo on their own promotional materials and will receive a Spirit Top 100 framed certificate. Sponsors will also receive an invitation to the Spirit launch party, the option to renew their Spirit Top 100 status up to 2012 and beyond and regular updates on the festival and business opportunities.

Twelve businesses have already signed up to be part of the Spirit Top 100, including Lloyds TSB, Earls Court Boatshow and Battens.

To apply to be a sponsor, businesses should request a form by calling Julie Wilson on 01305 257840 or emailing weymouth@thebestof.co.uk

8:31am Wednesday 23rd April 2008

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