TODAY marks the 500-day countdown to the start of the London 2012 Olympic Games when Sailing events will be hosted in the borough.

In honour of the milestone, the Dorset Echo has launched a Going for Gold campaign to encourage residents, businesses and visitors to make the most of opportunities presented by this once-in-a-lifetime event.

Teams from 61 nations are expected to take part in the 2012 sailing events, which start on July 27 next year, with up to 380 competitors in 10 Olympic events plus a further 80 Parlympic sailors taking part in three events.

Around 100 people turned out in support of the Echo’s photocall at the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy including Olympic bronze medallist windsurfer Nick Dempsey, Olympic 470 hopefuls Luke Patience and Stuart Bithell, Paralympian Megan Pascoe and academy chief executive John Tweed.

Dorset Echo editor Toby Granville and Echo staff were joined by young Portland sailor Adam Greaves, Olympic coach Barry Edgington, Revive Portland’s Yvonne Beven and the Rev Chris Briggs, Weymouth College young ambassadors, pupils from Royal Manor Arts College and Thornlow Preparatory School and Weymouth Sailing Club representatives.

Borough Mayor Paul Kimber, Portland Town Mayor David Thurston, president of the borough’s Chamber of Commerce Andy Cooke, Ben Harris of BH Marine, Tris Best of the Official Test Centre, and Dorset 2012 operation group members Simon Williams, Jacqui Gisborne, Gary Fooks and Duncan Flint also celebrated the campaign launch.

The campaign aims to bring weekly Olympic and Paralympic news to Echo readers about how communities, individuals and companies can get involved through volunteering, business development and tourism.

Borough mayor Paul Kimber said: “The Olympic Games is for everybody to enjoy and take part, not just a select few.

“There’s lots of different events going on in the lead up to the Games, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for us to put Portland and Weymouth on the world map. It’s great that the Echo is doing this campaign.”

Royal Manor student Adam Greaves, 14, of Southwell said: “It’s great because everyone can get into the Games and involved. I’m giving the home sailors support early on to boost their confidence.

“It’s not always easy sailing on home waters because everyone’s watching and there’s a lot of pressure on them but they should cope with it, most of them have a couple of Olympics behind them.

“It would be great if everyone gets out and supports the Games because it’s not going to happen here again.”

Portland Mayor David Thurston said: “It’s beginning to get exciting, there’s a lot of people doing an awful lot of work and it’s gradually coming together.

“We’re amazingly lucky to be part of this and as far as the island’s concerned, we’re amazingly lucky this is coming here.”

Chief executive of the sailing academy John Tweed said: “I’m really delighted about the Echo’s campaign.

“We’re looking forward to this fantastic event that’s coming to our shores next year. It’s like playing at home in football terms, in China, the athletes could see everyone on the shore with Union Jacks and that means a lot to them. It’s something they’ve been working for, dedicating their lives to for so many years.

“To be performing on home waters in front of a home crowd is just extraordinary.”