Olympic opening celebrations in Weymouth and Portland

10:35am Friday 27th July 2012 in Weymouth and Portland Sailing Olympics and Paralympics 2012 News

This live event has finished

Latest

  • Weymouth Beach Live Site opened to the public at 1pm and from 2pm-8pm there will be singing performances.
  • At 3.45pm the Coastal Voices choir performed, followed by Welcome Songs performers at 7pm.
  • Twelve Team GB sailors will take to the stage at 7.50pm before the hand over to the London celebrations, which will be shown on two huge screens.
  • Around 10.15pm there will be a firework display in Weymouth Bay.
  • Join in by sending your pictures to newsdesk@dorsetecho.co.uk or use the hashtag #olympicsailing on Twitter.

10:41pm

The day is drawing to a close. Beach events have been a huge success and Team GB given a rapturous reception on the beach.

Join us again tomorrow for live coverage of all that's happening in Weymouth and Portland during the games.

 

 

7:56pm

7:56pm

There's not long now until the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games. The ceremony will be screened live on Weymouth Beach, so get down and enjoy the party!

Keep up to date with all Olympic events and news via dorsetecho.co.uk

7:46pm

7:32pm Fri 27 Jul 12

ETV says

No, it's very quiet in Weymouth. Can't accuse me of being a moaner - a fact is a fact.

7:44pm

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7:13pm

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6:48pm Fri 27 Jul 12

maximan says

Genghis wrote:
Well I've spent most of the day down town on the seafront. Loads of people about enjoying the various events.
Can't put any spin on it, I went this afternoon and thought the numbers were down on the usual summer holiday figures. Was hoping for a few more but early days yet.

6:55pm

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5:56pm

Here's a short video from earlier showing firefighters at the Pavilion

5:54pm

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5:19pm Fri 27 Jul 12

Genghis says

Well I've spent most of the day down town on the seafront. Loads of people about enjoying the various events.

5:21pm

Pavilion fire: People are being allowed back into the venue. Investigations are underway into the cause of the fire, which is believed to have started in the toilets. As well as being the home of the TIC and the theatre, the Pavilion is also being used for the non-accredited media centre for the 2012 Games.

5:19pm

5:08pm Fri 27 Jul 12

pestobobber says

What's happening then? We can't let people like grumpyofwestham our cold water on it all.

Though perhaps that's what the fire crews are up to.

Hope the fireworks aren't all in a cardboard box nearby :)

5:18pm

4:56pm

4:45pm Fri 27 Jul 12

grumpyofwestham says

Where are all the people? I've never known a day so quiet in Weymouth at the height of summer ... car parks with loads of spaces, official car parks all but empty, roads around brewers quay empty of people .. it's more like late september or october than the middle of summer. If this is what the Olympic effect is, then I'm not in favour of it.

4:55pm

4:43pm

Pavilion fire: Several fire engines and police cars are at the scene. We're told the complex will be closed for the rest of the day. The Pavilion is home to the 2012 non-accredited media centre.

4:38pm

4:37pm

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4:26pm

4:26pm

Breaking News: Fire engines have been called to Weymouth Pavilion, home of the 2012 media centre. Our reporters are at the scene and will bring you the latest.

4:17pm

3:51pm

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3:33pm

3:32pm

3:31pm

The big day is here! The sun is shining, the Live Site on Weymouth Beach is up and running - and yes, it's FREE - and our reporters are out in the field tweeting the latest snippets of news. There's entertainment all day and the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games will be screened live from the beach tonight.

Bring on the Games!

3:19pm

3:17pm

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3:05pm

Will it be you? 'Olympic millionaires' are being made tonight to coincide with the opening ceremony. See our story here

2:46pm

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2:27pm

1:59pm

First Bus say there will be no extra buses in Weymouth tonight after the opening ceremony celebrations. See the story here

1:28pm

Video latest! Reporter Catherine Bolado reports from Weymouth Beach this morning about what to expect today.

 

 

12:59pm

And following on from Sam's tweet, here's a short piece about problems being experienced in King Street - although we've heard it's getting sorted now. Please remember King Street is closed from 10am-10pm throughout the period of the Games - except for access to the petrol station and the railway station from the Commerical Road end

 

12:55pm

12:44pm

Day 2 of the Battle of the Winds is underway on Portland now

Here's a story which will tell you what it's all about

And here's a picture which will give you some idea of what the spectacular will look like tomorrow evening. It promises to be a great show!

 

Members of the Battle for the Winds creative team practice Cultural Olympiad performance ideas

 

 

 

12:14pm

11:24am

And here's Jeremy Hunt having some trouble with a bell on live TV this morning.

 

11:20am

 

11:20am

While we're waiting for the festivities to start, here's our video of the Olympic torch in Weymouth :

11:10am

And here's a glimpse at the weather:

11:09am

Feel free to let us know in the comment if you're going to any of today's events.

 

You can keep up to date with traffic here ...

10:51am

10:47am

10:41am

We've got lots of coverage elsewhere on the site:

 

Your guide to what's on today.

Luke Patience and Stuart Bithell can't wait for the games to start

Our main story: The wait is over

And coverage of this morning's All the Bells events

And of course there's our Olympic section here .

10:38am

 

10:37am

Morning! It's been seven years, but today’s the day that Weymouth and Portland welcome the Olympic to the borough.

Here's what's happening today:

On Weymouth Beach from 2pm will be a host of performers and singers.

At 3.45pm the Coastal Voices choir will perform, followed by Welcome Songs performers at 7pm.

Twelve Team GB sailors will take to the stage at 7.50pm before the hand over to the London celebrations, which will be shown on two huge screens.

On Portland the Battle for the Winds will be searching for evil baddie Doldrum’s lair at the High Angle Battery from 12noon to 2pm.

Our team will be covering this once in a lifetime event and updating you on the day’s events as they happen.

Join in by sending your pictures to newsdesk@dorsetecho.co.uk or use the hashtag #olympicsailing on Twitter.

View the full Olympic events schedule here .

Comments(16)

grumpyofwestham says...
4:45pm Fri 27 Jul 12

Where are all the people? I've never known a day so quiet in Weymouth at the height of summer ... car parks with loads of spaces, official car parks all but empty, roads around brewers quay empty of people .. it's more like late september or october than the middle of summer. If this is what the Olympic effect is, then I'm not in favour of it.

Report this post »

pestobobber says...
5:08pm Fri 27 Jul 12

What's happening then? We can't let people like grumpyofwestham our cold water on it all.

Though perhaps that's what the fire crews are up to.

Hope the fireworks aren't all in a cardboard box nearby :)

Report this post »

Genghis says...
5:19pm Fri 27 Jul 12

Well I've spent most of the day down town on the seafront. Loads of people about enjoying the various events.

Report this post »

maximan says...
6:48pm Fri 27 Jul 12

Genghis wrote:
Well I've spent most of the day down town on the seafront. Loads of people about enjoying the various events.
Can't put any spin on it, I went this afternoon and thought the numbers were down on the usual summer holiday figures. Was hoping for a few more but early days yet.

Report this post »

ETV says...
7:32pm Fri 27 Jul 12

No, it's very quiet in Weymouth. Can't accuse me of being a moaner - a fact is a fact.

Report this post »

ijwufo68 says...
11:35pm Fri 27 Jul 12

The drama at the pavilion was the best part of the Olympic opening celebrations, because what I saw was the worst one I have ever seen!!

Report this post »

mjhawkins says...
11:52pm Fri 27 Jul 12

have to agree with last comment what a load of s--- and ETV is correct this morning i spoke with traders outside of there shops asking where these 60,000 people were

Report this post »

annotator1 says...
12:24am Sat 28 Jul 12

What a load of Bolderdash.
No 30,000 people visiting Weymouth. We were, as we all kinow, conned!
Time for repentance I think.

Report this post »

annotator1 says...
12:37am Sat 28 Jul 12

Weymouth Traders are losing thousands of pounds ... and will lose even more ... Fact!

Report this post »

crazyhorse99 says...
1:37am Sat 28 Jul 12

Really? There were thousands who were there when the Team GB Sailing team were introduced on stage. It was amazing to see so many people on the beach. I thought it was a unique experience and thoroughly enjoyed it. Also the harbour side pubs were also enjoying a busy time.

Report this post »

izzyarch says...
11:01am Sat 28 Jul 12

I couldn't move for people in Weymouth last night. They were spending money like there was no tomorrow. Someone's till is full to overflowing that's for sure. Good luck to them too. Town looks and feels wonderful. Can't believe I actually live here.

Report this post »

weymouthdoozer says...
11:07am Sat 28 Jul 12

Some of you must have been in another Weymouth, it was heaving. My wife has a town centre business and was very busy for nearly 12 hours yesterday and was having to turn people away or book them in for the next few days.

Report this post »

Genghis says...
11:22am Sat 28 Jul 12

Thanks crazyhorse99, izzyarch and weymouthdoozer for confirming what I thought I'd seen. From the other comments I was beginning to believe I had been in some alternative reality. Didn't know whether I could believe my own eyes or the text messages and pictures from family and friends that showed loads of people out and having fun.

Report this post »

ETV says...
10:21pm Sun 29 Jul 12

Time the Happy Clappers piped down and accepted that we're not going to get the 60,000 extra visitors per day during the Olympics.
.
What you're seeing is a few thousand people coming to Weymouth to see some free entertainment.
.
Time to get rid of all the parking restrictions, open the roads, bin the park and ride and tell everyone that in Weymouth it is business as usual.
.
Some businesses are doing well if they are in the right place, many businesses that aren't in the epicenter are *still* having a hard time not helped by people avoiding town.

Report this post »

Monmouthsman says...
12:29pm Mon 30 Jul 12

Enjoyed Friday evening at the site on the beach though it was far from being full and the security operation at the gate was utterly hopeless with only some people's bags being searched and no real in and out organisation of people in effect.
Amazed that there were no extra late buses on to take people home especially seeing the huge number of near empty shuttle buses running around through the day. The perception that the events are not organised for the population of W&PB was made stronger.

Report this post »

FooWoo says...
1:32pm Mon 30 Jul 12

Have been down there quite a few times. Two times I could not move because of all the people. Yesterday was not so busy, a lot of people spread out but it was a Sunday. I do like the people who are here. Not so many people who get drunk and kick off. Still a few about but certainly a lot less. A nice atmopsphere, a nicer crowd and weymouth is looking good. Hopefully the olympics will attract more suitable tourists in the future. Good job to everyone involved. Please feel free to moan about this if you like.

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