HAVEN Holidays will be welcoming hundreds of police officers and staff into one of its Weymouth holiday parks for the 2012 Games period.

Last week the Dorset Echo reported that Dorset Police had agreed a contract with Seaview Holiday Park in Preston for the accommodation of around 180 officers and staff engaged in the Olympic and Paralympic security operation.

Haven general manager Darren Hollis said: “We are looking forward to welcoming a new type of guest at Seaview next summer.

“We had to think long and hard about our regular customers before committing to this activity and it was a difficult decision to make.

“On balance we felt as a part of the Weymouth and Portland community, we should do our bit to support a successful event in 2012.

“For the period that Seaview is unavailable for holidaymakers, we are confident we can make our loyal customers and new visitors feel more than welcome at our other south coast parks, including Weymouth Bay Holiday Park and Littlesea in Weymouth and Rockley Park in Poole.”

School challenge

THE Team Dorset Challenge will be rolling out its campaign to more schools in the New Year.

Vikki Harman, 2012 Challenge Officer, will be visiting Wyke Regis Infants School on January 9 and then the junior school on January 11 and 12.

Both schools are aiming to do one challenge theme per week for five weeks and then an awards assembly each.

Pupils at St John’s Primary School, Weymouth will be finding out about the challenge on January 16.

Other schools across the borough, including Southwell Primary, Southill Primary and St Nicholas and St Lawrence have also approached Vikki about finding out more.

Holy Trinity will be getting involved in April and Vikki is also going to work with the Wey Valley Young Ambassadors.

The Team Dorset Challenge is inspired by Olympic ideals such as courage, inspiration, determination, friendship and excellence, and challenges include physical activity, healthy lifestyle and community.

Learn more at teamdorsetchallenge.org

e-newsletter

STAY up to date with local 2012 Games news and events by signing up for a free e-newsletter.

The Weymouth and Portland 2012 Operations Team is offering to send the latest news about Dorset's preparations for the London 2012 sailing events straight to your inbox.

Visit dorsetfor you.com/London2012

Charity plans

AROUND 50,000 people have signed up to take part in an Olympic-themed charity fundraising campaign.

Participants in the Gold Challenge campaign doubled in the last month.

It aims to encourage 100,000 people to complete personal sporting challenges while raising £20million for charity by the end of 2012.

Gold Challenge aims to get people active and raise money for one of 150 charities through a series of special events.

The scheme, part of the mass participation programme for London 2012, is backed by Team GB and Sport England. Over 100 businesses are also on board.

Gold Challenge executive chairman and founder Dan Thompson said: “When we announced 20,000 registrations in November, I was incredibly proud of the business and hoped we would keep the momentum going. 'I am thrilled that we have exceeded my expectations and that we will enter 2012, forecast to be our biggest year, in a fantastic position.”'

Visit goldchallenge.org