First Olympic venue ready today

London 2012’s first venue – the Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy – will be handed over today (Friday) six weeks ahead of schedule.

Contractors Dean & Dyball have completed a series of upgrades to facility in the Dorset town, including a new pier, a 200m breakwater and a 250m slipway.

The scheme was the first Olympic project to be started, but hit rough water early on when work was delayed because of fears it would disrupt local birds.

Olympic Delivery Authority chief executive David Higgins told the Metro: “Weymouth and Portland was the first venue for 2012 to start construction work, so reaching the final stages of the project is another important milestone.”