Portland’S Adam Greaves has finally overcome the hurdle of his young age to secure a dream job at the Olympics.

The teenager who spends all his spare time volunteering at the 2012 Sailing venue was devastated to learn he was too young to be an official Games Maker volunteer as he will not be 16 until October.

The blow was worsened when a nomination for Adam to be a torchbearer at the London 2012 Olympics was rejected and the keen sailor feared that he would have no part to play in the big event on his doorstep.

But now the tide has turned, and Adam’s skills and enthusiasm have been snapped up by Nothe Fort bosses.

The Royal Manor student will be working as a runner at the Fort during the Olympic sailing events from July 29, when Nothe Gardens becomes an official ticketed venue for spectators.

Adam, of Southwell, said: “I’ve been fighting for it for so long it’s amazing to know for certain that I’ll be a part of 2012.

“It’s now made the Olympics so much more than an event that I couldn’t have anything to do with.

“To now know I’ll be part of the ticketed area – it’s gone from one extreme to another.”

He added: “I’ve got a couple of training days coming up, including one in April.

“Then I’ll be volunteering from start to finish at the Olympics, it should be good fun.

“There will be volunteer marshals at the control centre at the Nothe but because of my age I’m not allowed to marshal so I’ll be a runner for the managing director.

“I’ll be the message person going around checking everything’s alright.”

In the meantime, Adam, who progressed through the Sail for £5 scheme and has since amassed almost 496 hours at the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy will continue to volunteer as a safety boat driver and assistant instructor with SailLaser.

The active member of the Sea Cadet Centre in Weymouth is also gearing up for the Dorset Cadet Challenge next month, Tall Ship sailing this Easter and the Global Rock Challenge dance event on February 27 with Royal Manor Arts College.

Proud mum Mandy Greaves, of Southwell, said: “Adam will be assisting the director at the fort David Joy during the two weeks of the Olympics.

“He came back from his interview absolutely buzzing, after all he’s been through we nearly gave up.

“Adam was so sad to think he couldn’t be part of the event, despite volunteering at the sailing academy in all his spare time, but as one door closes another opens and this is absolutely brilliant.

“I’m really chuffed for him and really proud.”