GET ready for a summer of sport.

Weymouth and Portland Borough Council and partners will be hosting the 2014 Dorset Festival of Sports to mark the second anniversary of Olympic sailing events.

Kicking off on July 16 and running until August 3, it includes a two-day sports arena, disability sports days, a team sports day, fun day, Battens Charity Volleyball Championship and the RAF Beach Volleyball Classic.

Many Dorset-based organisations will be taking part, giving all ages and abilities a chance to be inspired by London 2012.

Visitors will be able to try a sport on land or water, emulate their Olympic heroes and discover the many health, fitness and social benefits.

The festival will also see the return of the ambassadors, Olympic greeters who made such an impact during the Games.

They will be on hand during the two-day Dorset Beach Sports Festival.

Council tourism and culture spokesman Rachel Rogers said: “Weymouth and Portland had the eyes of the world on the area in 2012.

“The programme this year will be a fantastic opportunity for people to have a go at sports or cheer on as a spectator.

“We want to keep the sporting legacy of the games going.”

Dorset County Council Cabinet member for community services, Colin Jamieson, said: “Dorset County Council has been organising the Disability Sports Festivals for the last seven years.

“We’re proud that this year’s events will give more than 500 Dorset adults and children with disabilities the chance to develop their potential and try a fantastic range of sports and activities.”

Conrad Humphreys, managing director of Sport Environment, the company behind the Ecover Blue Mile, said: “We had hundreds of people having a go at our taster sessions and we’re looking forward to getting families involved again this summer.”

Events happening during the 10-day festival:

July 16: Dorset Schools Disability Beach Sports Festival

July 19 and 20: Ecover Blue Mile – People can participate in open water swim, kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding.

July 26 and 27: Dorset Beach Sports Festival – Try a sport, water sports and beach sports

July 28: Dorset Adults Disability Beach Festival

July 29 Youth Football Competition – multiple age groups for boys and girls (supported by Dorset FA)

July 31: Battens Charity Beach Volleyball August 1-3: RAF Careers Weymouth Beach Volleyball Classic. More than 100 top two-a-side men’s and women’s teams take part

For more information about the festival see www.visit-dorset.com