TESSA Jowell dropped into Weymouth and Portland yesterday to learn more about the borough's preparations for the 2012 Olympic Games.

The Olympics minister visited the seafront for an update on regeneration in the area before taking a tour of the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy.

And she learnt a bit about about how the region is planning to make the most of the Olympics in terms of tourism, business and sporting opportunities.

Weymouth and Portland will host the Olympic and Paralympic sailing events when the event arrives in London in five years' time.

Miss Jowell began her visit by meeting borough council corporate director Richard Burgess and South Dorset MP Jim Knight at Weymouth Pavilion.

She was told about plans for the future of Weymouth seafront before travelling by boat to the Academy and Osprey Quay development.

"Weymouth and Portland bid hard to host sailing for the Olympics and won," she said.

"This is a clear statement of ambition rewarded and how the benefits of the games will extend not just to Weymouth and Portland but across the South West.

"Visitors will see world class sailing and world class facilities and I congratulate the Academy on the way in which they've promoted the involvement of the community and young people.

"Sailing will be at the heart of the south west in the Olympics but there are also great opportunities for tourism and culture."

Mr Burgess said: "I'm delighted on behalf of the borough council to be able to brief Olympics minister Tessa Jowell on progress on the regeneration of the Weymouth seafront area and our preparations for the sailing events."

He said Weymouth and Portland is already beginning to see the legacy benefits as a result of being an Olympic venue.

The Sailing Academy is expected to be the first fully operational venue prior to the Olympic Games.

Guy Lavender, South West England director for the 2012 games, said he was 'delighted' Miss Jowell had made the visit.

He added: "We aim to deliver a superb sailing event and maximise the opportunities for the local community and south west England.

"But our ambitions are much wider and it's fundamental that we involve the whole region in sport, cultural activities and volunteering around the games."