ONE of the resort’s Cultural Olympiad organisers plans to bring the Games to life for everyone. He expects next year’s programme of events to lure thousands of people into the resort who have no interest in Sailing but who wish to soak up the atmosphere of the Olympics.

The majority of Cultural Olympiad projects are funded by the Arts Council England and are designed to encourage and welcome involvement in the Games from communities across the UK.

Alan Rogers, arts development officer for Weymouth and Portland, said the events – which will include a 360-degree arena on the beach featuring games, music and fitness sessions and a shoreside torch ceremony on Weymouth Beach – will broaden the appeal of the Olympics.

He said: “For most people it’s the Cultural Olympiad that’s going to provide a celebration of events for people to take part in.

“It’s a grandiose title and we’re trying to avoid the word ‘art’.

“They are events that people can take part in or watch. They are open to everyone and most of them are totally free.

“That’s the line we are taking – this is something for residents and visitors equally.

“There should be none of the feeling you get from walking into an art gallery.

“It’s not pretentious arty stuff, there’s something for everyone.”

Test-run events have already been held for the Cultural Olympiad and an open weekend earlier this month gave residents a taste of what will be on offer next year for the Olympics.

The Spirit of the Sea events have stood the borough in good stead for hosting the sporting spectacular next year, Mr Rogers said.

He added: “I think that what ‘Spirit’ has is that it’s a very community and family-orientated festival.

“When we’ve done surveys from the previous year the interesting thing is that for all the talk about Facebook and viral marketing, most people hear about what’s going on by word of mouth or they’ve heard about it in the Dorset Echo.”

Mr Rogers said the Cultural Olympiad team have looked at how they can make the borough’s involvement in the Olympics accessible for all.

He added: “Sailing is a niche sport, but we’re quite good at it.

“It’s one of those sports that we might do well in and win medals.

“But for the rest of the people who will be coming to Weymouth and Portland, they will be coming for an Olympic experience.

“It’s a question of how can we bring the sailing alive to make it more interesting?

“If you’re on the sea with the sailors it’s quite exciting, but we need to bring that Olympic experience back to the beach.”

Mr Rogers added that it is crucial that Weymouth and Portland comes across well during its turn on an international stage.

“It’s time for people to stop asking ‘what’s the Olympics going to do for me?’ and time to start asking ‘what am I going to do for the Olympics?’ “If we show the world the best of our character people will be amazed.”