AN OLYMPIC ambassador will play a starring role in one of Australia’s favourite TV programmes.

Chris Barrett, 46, of Weymouth, volunteered for 12 days as an ambassador leading his team in Weymouth and Portland .

Chris saw the camera crew on the Esplanade and went over to speak to them with no idea he was speaking to the Australian equivalent of Jonathan Ross.

Rove McManus, is one of Australia’s favourite TV presenters with a chat show on the Foxtel channel.

Mr McManus came down to follow the Australian sailing team and interviewed Chris for a light-hearted segment airing on their programme soon.

Chris Barrett’s sister, Keran Delbridge lives in Sydney and Chris said she would be recording the programme for him.

Chris also said: “It was an interesting experience and fingers crossed it will be shown, giving more publicity to Weymouth and Portland.”

He added: “On Sunday we had 36,000 people come in just for the sailing – everyone had such a great time and they’ll be talking about that for years to come.”

Chris said the volunteers had been getting great feedback from locals and visitors about the work the ambassadors have done in creating a fantastic atmosphere in Weymouth.

He said: “There have been so many volunteers who have contributed so much to what happened down here. I would definitely do it again given the chance.”

He added: “It’s a real one off for Weymouth and everyone is so pleased about Ben Ainslie ’s win. There is also the fact that the sailors have said how the crowd lifted them up for the sailing events.”

Their final day of volunteering was celebrated with a surprise glass of bubby for Chris and all his team.

  • MORE than 300 first aid volunteers are on by to help visitors and locals. The British Red Cross and St John Ambulance are hard at work across the borough providing first aid cover for visitors to the Games.

Staff said there was a real buzz around the Harbourside and on the Last Mile routes and everybody seemed to be enjoying themselves.

Andrew Smart from the British Red Cross said: “It’s a fantastic chance to work together with the St John Ambulance and create common working practices.”

Mr Smart added: “I think it’s a case of going out and about and being visible so if people want support they know where to come.”

In total 8,000 volunteer hours will go into providing cover across the Games.

What’s on today

  • The free sports arena on Weymouth Beach will be offering people the chance to try out a range of sports from 10am to 6pm.
  • Live music from local bands will be on offer inside Weymouth Pavilion today between 7pm and midnight. It’s £1 to enter and refreshments and barbecue food will be on offer too.
  • Visitors can also enjoy amazing 360º panoramic views of the sailing venue, Weymouth Bay, Portland and the Jurassic Coast from Weymouth Sea Life Tower. Tickets are available from £6.90 and the last flight of the day is at 8.45pm. For more information visit www.weymouth-tower.com
  • The Boat Project – 30ft seafaring vessel and living archive of people’s lives made from donated wood items, Trinity Road, Weymouth Harbour
  •  Artwey’s Giant Wall, Brewer’s Quay Workshop
  •  ICCI360 Arena – Weymouth Pavilion Forecourt: Into the Abyss: Mission to the Ocean Floor, 10am-12.30pm Interactive Gaming, 1pm-3pm In Motion: 360 Screening, 3.30pm-5pm 360 Quiz Night, 7.30pm-11pm
  •  Busking, Hope Square, Jubilee Clock Tower, Train Station, St Mary Street
  • Jurassic Coast Airlines Weymouth Pavilion Forecourt l b-side multi-media arts festival, various locations – www.b-side.org.uk Exploratory Laboratory, various locations per artist – www.exlab.org.uk