THIS time next year ‘the greatest show on Earth’ will be starting in Britain and the Olympic Sailing events poised to take place on borough waters.

Today’s one-year-to-go countdown until the London 2012 Games has been hailed by Olympians, Paralympians and 2012 hopefuls living in Weymouth and Portland as an ‘exciting but scary reminder’ that the clock is ticking.

The pressure is on for Britain’s sailors to achieve more medals than ever before at the home Games, an event which has been 64 years in coming, and for the borough to accommodate, welcome and manage an estimated 60,000 visitors a day for the Olympic period.

It is the equivalent of hosting Weymouth Carnival non-stop for a fortnight and a flurry of behind-the-scenes preparations are gaining momentum.

Triple Olympic gold medallist Ben Ainslie, who is currently based on Portland, said: “It is exciting because everyone has been working so hard for so many years before the event, to finally be one year to go is definitely a marker for us all to take a reality check.

“While all the sailors have different campaigns we’re all within the bigger team.

“I’ve been to four Olympics and, of course, this one is extra special.

“My generation grew up sailing on these waters with youth competitions and it’s really special to all of us to have this incredible event here in Weymouth and Portland.”

Major developments have taken place across the borough since the announcement that London had won the bid to host the 2012 Games in July 2005.

There has been more than £45million-worth of investment to the former naval site at Osprey Quay and £110million has been invested in highway improvements including the Relief Road, Weymouth Transport Package, new cycleways, road resurfacing and bridge maintenance.

Investment will continue with up to £3million being spent on Weymouth seafront and a revamp to Weymouth Harbourside worth hundreds of thousands of pounds to put in place additional berthing and anchoring.

Portland Port is investing in mooring for larger vessels to boost its attraction to superyachts and cruise ships.

The past two Sail for Gold regattas are estimated to have generated £1.5million and £2million into the local economy in 2010 and 2011 respectively.

Other legacy benefits will include super-fast broadband internet infrastructure from BT to the Osprey Quay site for the media centre at the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy.

Forthcoming competition dates include the test event – the Weymouth and Portland International Regatta – starting this Saturday – and Sail for Gold from June 10 to 16, 2012.

Racing in the Games itself will begin on July 29, 2012, and the eyes of the world will turn to the borough, with televised coverage expected to attract four billion people.