Today marks exactly two years to go until the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Organisers are calling on the UK public to start planning their Games to ensure they don’t miss out on this once in a lifetime event. Whether it is signing up for tickets, becoming a ‘London 2012 Games Maker’ volunteer, or a local volunteer, now is the time to start thinking about how to make the most of the summer of 2012.

Today also marks the opening of the London 2012 Volunteer Programme, seeking to recruit up to 70,000 volunteers or ‘London 2012 Games Makers’, of which some will be required in Weymouth and Portland to help run the sailing competition.  Those interested in general volunteering positions can, from 15 September 2010, go to www.london2012.com/volunteering and find everything they need to help them decide if they have what it takes to be a London 2012 Games Maker.

Dorset will be also be launching it’s own 2012 volunteering programme prior to the Games;  anyone who would like to express an interest to help in Dorset during Games time can do so by visiting the Team Dorset website at http://www.teamdorset.org.uk/Community/Volunteering

Tickets for London 2012 go on sale in the spring of 2011, but anyone can register their interest now. Over 1.4 million people have already registered their details on www.tickets.london2012.com and they will be in the best position to apply for tickets when the ballot process opens next year.

With London 2012’s education programme ‘Get Set’ now reaching over 14,000 schools throughout the country, including over 125 in Dorset; Cultural Olympiad projects up and running – culminating in the London 2012 Festival, a twelve week festival in the summer of 2012 itself; plus over 1,000 ‘Open Weekend’ events held last weekend, there are London 2012 projects and initiatives happening all over the country giving the UK public plenty of scope to plan how to get involved.

To celebrate the two year countdown here in Dorset, on Sunday 25 July, Wenlock the Olympic mascot joined some of the first walkers to complete the 17 mile Ridgeway Charity Challenge in aid of the British Heart Foundation, finishing at Chesil Beach, West Bexington.

Commenting on the Two years to go celebrations across the country, LOCOG Chair Seb Coe said: ‘We want everyone to start planning their once in a lifetime experience in 2012. We are well on track – the venues are nearing completion and our plans are coming together. Now it’s the public’s turn. How will you spend the summer of 2012? Whether it’s buying a ticket, becoming a volunteer, being part of our education or culture programmes – there are hundreds of ways you can get involved.  Don’t wait – to ensure you don’t miss out, start planning your Games now.’

From an infrastructure perspective, Dorset is well ahead of London in that the Weymouth Relief Road and the Olympic legacy Weymouth Transport Package are both due to be completed in 2011 well ahead of the Games. The sailing facilities at the Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy are already being used, the first UK Olympic venue to be completed over 3 years prior to the start of the London 2012 Games. Additionally, Portland Marina, opened in April 2009, will be fully operational with additional work due to be undertaken prior to Games.

ODA Chairman John Armitt said: ‘With two years to go the venues and infrastructure needed for the Games are on schedule and within budget. The venues will be ready next summer – a year ahead of the Games – to allow time for test events. There is still a long way to go and we are not complacent but the foundations for success are now in place.’

More than 1,000 athletes who are members of Team 2012 are planning, training and preparing as they pursue their dreams of representing Team GB in London 2012. We congratulate London 2012 for its success in reaching this important milestone today, and for its continued progress in delivering to the athletes of the world a stage that is befitting their remarkable talent, determination and commitment to excellence.’

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