How did the 2012 Olympics change Weymouth and Portland. The legacy lives on with us everyday at The Official Test Centre as we are so lucky to be able to teach people to windsurf, wing and foil at the same location that witnessed some Iconic Olympic moments 12 years ago, the country was gripped by the Olympics. After years of preparations, two days after the awe-inspiring opening ceremony, attention turned to Portland as the area hosted the first of many sailing events for the Games. The Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy at Osprey Quay was chosen to host the sailing events of both the Olympic and Paralympic Games. One of the stand out memories was when Nick Dempsey won a Silver medal in the RS:X classes for windsurfing. Olympic Legacy; remains at the forefront of UK sailing!
Fast forward to today and Emma & Sam have reached the medal race after triumphantly navigating the Olympic stage this week. Emma Wilson dominated the women's windsurfing and Sam Sills makes the medal series in 8th. We all wait with bated breath to find out what's going to happen in today's medal race!
By Emma Nicholson.
2024 marks 12 years since Weymouth & Portland hosted the 2012 Olympic Sailing events and the Olympic legacy can be seen throughout the town. Since 2012, Weymouth & Portland have continued to host championship water sports events, due to its calm waters, steady stream of wind and high-quality facilities. Weymouth & Portland is world renowned for its offering of watersports, we are so lucky to be able to offer windsurfing, winging, foiling and e-foiling at one of the best locations for watersports as our centre is within the grounds of WPNSA.
Less than five years earlier, the fledgling Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy (WPNSA) had begun in the humblest of settings: a disused military hangar in Portland Harbour.
As part of the official bid for the Games the site was transformed, and, just as the successful London bid was announced, the doors were thrown open to the new-look WPNSA, a world class sailing facility perched on the shores of one of the country’s greatest sailing spots.
It was the start of a journey that would see the area become a mecca for the sport – and introduce thousands of people to sailing and watersports.
The Chesil Sailing Trust, established at the same time as WPNSA in the early 2000s to help young, disadvantaged or disabled people go sailing or windsurfing, saw an influx of interest following London 2012. It's Sail for a Fiver and Windsurf for a Fiver schemes now cater to almost 2,000 youngsters each year. At The Official Test Centre we are are so grateful to The Chesil Trust for funding our Well-being Windsurfing sessions.
An RYA Spokesperson, said: "Many British Sailing Team athletes striving for a spot in Team GB for the Paris 2024 Olympics were mere teenagers – or younger - when London 2012 took place, but they now get to call WPNSA and its world class facilities home.
And professional sailing is peppered with success stories who took motivation from the Games and channelled it into their own careers. Whether it’s a dream of Olympic glory or just the opportunity to try something new, the sheer impact of London 2012 remains at the forefront of sailing."
As we come full circle, Emma Wilson and Sam Sills are represting Great Britain in Paris and are going for gold. We will all be cheering them on and waving our flags at the Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy!
If the Paris 2024 Olympics or the Olympic legacy has inspired you to start your watersports journey with us at The Official Test Centre, why not come and experience the exact location of the 2012 Olympic Games for yourself and book a taster, some tuition or experience the magic of Fliteboard with us at The Official Test Centre.
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