MORE than 20 organisations have joined forces in Dorset to orchestrate the smooth running of the sailing competition and associated events for the London 2012 Games.

The London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games has been described in organisation and resource terms as ‘the largest single project undertaken in the UK for over 70 years’.

A series of working groups in the county, collectively known as the Weymouth and Portland 2012 Operations Group, have the responsibilities of transport, visitors, culture, health and safety, communications, safety and security and volunteering.

Key contacts for each of the groups are bringing insight to their activities through a weekly column in the Dorset Echo and online at dorsetforyou.com/London2012.

Here’s Councillor Howard Legg, borough council spokesman for partnerships and special projects including the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic sailing events.

THE milestone of 200 days to go was recently passed but what did this mean in operational and aspirational terms?

In southern Dorset we are working hard to ensure the games and its consequential effects are catered for with good planning and realistic assessments of what demands will be made on us.

How we will match those with the resources we have available is a challenge. We have formed a good team largely based, but not exclusively so, in the borough council offices.

I am always pleased to see how well staff from the county and borough councils and from the Olympic Delivery Authority and the Government, when in town, all work together as one team.

Others from the security services, media and cultural sources also form part of this very effective team where issues are identified and solutions put in place to resolve these problems.

Co-operation with the sailing academy and the London organising committee local representatives who are responsible for the events on the water are very close too.

If this sounds cosy, don’t be misled. Another challenge is to combat the many myths and rumours that abound. If you hear something that sounds ridiculous you will be right to be dubious about its authenticity.

These pages in the Echo on Tuesdays and Thursdays help put that right.