TODAY, with one year to go until the start of the Olympic Games, we formally invite the world to the London 2012 Games and showcase how we are getting ready to host the world in 365 days time.

I am pleased to report we are fully on track with one year to go. The Olympic Park venues are built, the sponsorship to stage the Games is in place and we have a world-class team on board at the London 2012 Organising Committee to run the sporting events.

Our testing programme is the world’s biggest sporting dress rehearsal and next in line is the Weymouth and Portland International Regatta 2011. Over the 12-day event, our Sailing team will test their systems, equipment and procedures in advance of the Olympic and Paralympic competition next year.

Since the launch of the Dorset Echo’s Going for Gold campaign in March this year, we have interviewed approximately 2,000 people based in Weymouth and Portland and the surrounding area for a wide range of Games Maker volunteer roles with us next summer.

Some of the volunteers are lending their time and expertise at next week’s regatta. I had the pleasure of meeting five of our volunteers when I visited the area this June to see the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy in full operational mode with the Sail for Gold regatta.

I wish all our Test Event volunteers well and would like to thank them in advance of the event for their invaluable contribution in getting us ready.

In September, we will start to make offers for the Games Maker volunteer positions we have for next summer, however interviews will continue right through until the end of March 2012 as we need so many people. Young people interested in volunteering with us should check out london2012.com as our Young Games Maker programme for teams of 16 to 18-year-olds is now up and running. Applications are also being received locally for the Weymouth and Portland Ambassador Scheme to welcome visitors to the local area.

The Dorset Echo’s Going for Gold campaign has also featured the launch of the Olympic Torch Relay. Weymouth and Portland will host an evening celebration to welcome the Olympic Flame on May 12, 2012, and I hope to hear later this year of many inspiring people from the area who are successful with their nomination to carry the Olympic Flame next summer.

There can be no greater reward for someone who has contributed to the local community and there are still opportunities to say thank you to someone by nominating them through the Torch Relay sponsor campaigns – see www.london2012.com This time next year, we will be embarking on an amazing summer of sporting carnival and cultural festival, and Weymouth and Portland is set to play its part. Each week the Dorset Echo’s Going for Gold pages show the progress and the hard work of all local delivery partners.

Together, we will make the 2012 Games a success.