DETAILED plans for the free Weymouth and Portland Live site that will be bringing the Olympic sailing events to life this summer have been revealed.

The site, which will be hosted on Weymouth Beach from Thursday July 26 to Sunday, August 12, will enable 15,000 people at a time to celebrate the London 2012 Olym-pic Games.

Weymouth and Portland Live will also be the focal point for the region’s cultural events as part of the Maritime Mix London 2012 Cultural Olympiad by the Sea.

Events will kick off on the beach on July 26 with the start of a spectacular three-day theatrical performance called Battle for the Winds.

It will tell the story of heroic Wind Gatherers who are fighting to release the wind that has been captured by a baddie called Doldrum, ready for the Olympic sailors to race.

The performance will move to Portland’s High Angle Battery on July 27 and then return to Weymouth Beach on July 28 for the finale.

On Friday, July 27, the borough’s live site, will have live screening of the Olympic Opening Ceremony events in London’s Olympic Park and Stadium along with a magnificent firework display in Weymouth Bay and mass choral performances by the Coastal Voices and Welcome Songs projects.

The free-to-enter live site will include two giant 60 square-metre screens, streaming footage of the events in Weymouth Bay and Portland Harbour where Brit-ain’s Olympians will compete against the world’s top sailors for glory.

The main focus will be on screening live coverage of the London 2012 sailing events from 29 July to 11 August, typically from noon until 6pm each day, although it will also screen other Olympic sporting competitions, especially in the evenings during the key athletic events.

Weymouth, with its Georgian seafront, bustling town centre, sandy beach and 17th-century harbour, is expected to attract 60,000 visitors a day during the Olympic fortnight.

The beach will also host an interactive Sports Arena during the Olympics, with opportunities for up to 2,000 people per day to try football, rugby, volleyball, cricket, bowling, sailing and kayaking.

Councillor Howard Legg, who is the spokesman for partnerships and special projects, said: “This summer’s programme of events for Weymouth and Portland promises to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience for everybody involved.

“The Olympic Live Site on Weymouth Beach will be a fabulous venue for people to enjoy and share in the London 2012 Olympics with the big screens and an impressive and diverse range of cultural events.

“The Live Site will also be a great venue for visitors to try out a range of beach and water-based events at the Sports Arena.”

Find out more about borough plans for the big event at dorsetforyou.com/london2012