Bring on the Games: Prime Minister's message to Dorset Echo readers (From Dorset Echo)

Bring on the Games: Prime Minister's message to Dorset Echo readers

11:30am Wednesday 8th February 2012 in News By Laura Kitching

Prime Minister David Cameron and Councillor Mike Goodman with the Bring on the Games sticker

THE Prime Minister has thrown his support behind our Bring on the Games campaign.

David Cameron issued a personal message to Dorset Echo readers, after posing for a picture with a window sticker at a function at Number 10 Downing Street.

Mr Cameron commended the Bring on the Games campaign for celebrating the county’s pride in hosting the Olympic and Paralympic sailing events.

The campaign was launched by the Dorset Echo in partnership with NHS Dorset’s Team Dorset Challenge, the borough’s Chamber of Commerce and the Weymouth and Portland 2012 Operations Team.

The Prime Minister urged Dorset’s schools, businesses and residents to ‘seize this opportunity’ to ‘showcase everything Dorset has to offer.’ He said: “Dorset has a lot to shout about and now is the time to do it.

“The ‘Bring on the Games’ stickers and posters are absolutely symbolic of this spirit and I’m delighted that the Dorset Echo, Weymouth and Portland Operations Team, Chamber of Commerce and NHS Team Dorset Challenge Team have united to support this once in a lifetime opportunity in this way.

“The sailing boat with the Union flag as its sail is the perfect symbol of how the people of Dorset are taking pride in their Olympic role and flying the flag for the county and for Britain.”

Almost 15,000 free stickers have so far been given out to residents and visitors by the partnership and an additional 30 giant stickers have also been produced for all the borough schools.

The eyes of the world will be turning to Weymouth and Port-land, as the largest 2012 Games venue outside of London, from the opening ceremony on July 27 until the end of the Paralympic Games on September 9.

Borough councillor Mike Goodman presented the Bring on the Games sticker at a function for Conservative council leaders and was impressed with the Prime Minister’s knowledge of the borough’s Olympic preparations.

Coun Goodman said: “When he was going around enabling people to have photos taken I took the opportunity to offer him a sticker for the ministerial Jag.

“What was gratifying was that without any prompting – because he didn’t know this was going to happen – he knew about our preparations for the Games and how we are ready and ahead of budget.

“He said that locally we are doing a fantastic job getting preparations done. He knew what progress we’d made and he agreed with the stickers’ sentiment entirely – ‘Let’s welcome the world and have a good Games’.”

He added: “I think the Bring on the Games campaign is having a positive effect.

“Whatever you do, there’s always a small percentage of people who would like to do it another way but there was lots of enthusiasm at a recent briefing for community leaders about the Olympic Torch Relay.

“The excitement is obviously spreading out further than the borough.”