STICKERS

GAMES Maker hopeful Jamie Bayliss has returned home to north Wiltshire with a reminder that Weymouth and Portland is playing a key part in the 2012 Games.

He grabbed one of 5,000 International Olympic Committee-approved window stickers produced by the Dorset Echo, the borough’s 2012 operations group and Chamber of Commerce.

The 39-year-old software industry consultant, who recently volunteered at the borough’s Olympic sailing test event, said: “It’s extremely exciting to be in the heart of it and a fantastic learning experience.

“I’ve come away a sailing fan and I would be disappointed not to be here next year.

“It’s sport at its highest professional level but with a lovely laid back atmosphere – it must be unique to sailing.

“Once you understand the rules, you really get into it relatively swiftly.”

He added: “I’ve been staying on Portland and everybody I’ve come across has been positive about the Games.

“I wouldn’t ever have come here for two weeks if it wasn’t for the Olympics.”

ECONOMY

AN ECONOMIC impact study has found that major sporting events like the 2012 Games pay off in valuable economic benefits for the host nation.

A comprehensive study of the 2010 Ryder Cup golf tournament, at the Celtic Manor Resort in Wales, has valued the economic impact for the host nation at £82.4million.

The study took account of money spent on local travel, on-site spend, off-site spend, any extension to a visitor’s stay and associated additional spend.

Visit Wales ran a fully-integrated marketing campaign to maximise the benefits of hosting the Ryder Cup for the country’s Tourism industry.

The value of the golf tourism market increased by 82 per cent from 2004 to 2010.

There was a notable increase from £34.7m in 2009 to £41.9m in 2010 – the year the tournament was in Wales. The report provides a taster of what the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games can deliver for the UK.

The Games are forecast by an Oxford Economics study to generate a £2.34bn tourism dividend for the UK’s economy.

Visit http://www.tourism2012games.org/ ryder-cup.aspx.

COMPETING

DORSET’S Alison Knowles is among the GB Rowing Team taking part in a training camp in Bled, Slovenia, ahead of the 2011 World Championships starting on Sunday.

The event, which doubles as a qualifier for the 2012 Games, will run until September 4.

The 68-rower GB squad is fielding boats in all the Olympic classes – five women’s, three lightweight and six men’s and three of the four Paralympic classes.

There are also crews contesting three of the international lightweight classes.

Britain won four golds, four silvers and a bronze in the Olympic classes at the last World Championships as well as a Paralympic class gold and silver.

Bournemouth’s Knowles, a 2008 Olympian, has made the final cut for the eight and will race in the opening heats on August 29.

BUSINESS TIPS

TOP tips for businesses to prepare for the Games are being offered free online.

Tourism 2012 Games is a resource designed to help all UK tourism professionals and businesses, however big or small, to identify and connect with opportunities around the home Olympics and Paralympics.

Businesses are advised to:

• Make the most of free marketing tools;

• Sign up to the Fair Pricing and Practice Charter;

• Read the Brand Protection Guidelines on how you can refer to the Games;

• Make your business stand out from the crowd;

• Ensure that your information is easy for 2012 Games visitors to find;

• Prepare to offer visitors a fantastic welcome;

• Get your technology up to speed.

Find out more at tourism2012games.org.

OPPORTUNITIES

THE London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games has published new contract opportunities for businesses.

Delivering the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games will require the procurement of goods, works and services from an enormous range of firms. London 2012 will directly buy and manage a relatively small number of contracts with Tier One suppliers or contractors.

This in turn will form supply chains of around 75,000 opportunities covering industries including tourism and hospitality. A business network called Compete For has been set up for the publication of contract opportunities.

It is also worth researching who already holds contracts with London 2012 in your area.

London 2012 has already signed well over 1,000 contracts with suppliers. Most opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) will come further down this supply chain although SMEs can also collaborate.

Register at competefor.com.