THOUSANDS of people turned out to welcome the world to Dorset for the Olympics.

Weymouth beach was packed with crowds for the opening ceremony on Friday night and a spectacular Battle for the Winds production on Saturday evening.

Youngsters from the Lyme Regis -based B Sharp group were among the singers who performed in the Coastal Voices production on the main stage on Weymouth beach on Friday.

Niki McCretton and Marc Parrett from the Lyric Theatre in Bridport were among those behind Dorset’s entry in the Battle of the Winds.

The spectacular show featured wind machines from each county in the south west competing to bring the breezes to Weymouth and Portland for the sailing events.

They rolled along Weymouth seafront on Saturday afternoon in a procession before the spellbinding show on Saturday night.

It featured fireworks, gymnastic displays, music, circus style acts, fire juggling, pyrotechnics and a torchlight parade into the sea featuring 2012 torch bearers.

Claire Teasdale was among those organising the parade.

She said: “This is the ceremony of the winds where we have gathered the winds from all the counties in the region and we are bringing the winds to Weymouth and they are all telling their stories.

“It’s been very well received and we have had lots of young people enjoying it.”

The loudest cheers on Friday night were reserved for the sailors of Team GB, who took to the stage for a heroes’ welcome.

A total of 12 sailors from the Olympic team paid tribute to Weymouth and Portland ahead of their most challenging Games yet.

They were introduced as the ‘most talented group of British sailors ever’ to rapturous crowds of screaming fans.

Coach Stephen Park was first on stage and thanked everyone for their support.

He said: “All the support we get from the crowd here in Weymouth and Portland is great.

“We’ve got the best sailing team in the world.”

Catch all the action

THE sailing events continue this week as well as entertainment on the main Beach Live site with entertainment as part of the Maritime Mix, Cultural Olympiad 2012 and large screens showing Olympic events and contests. Entry is free to this site.

There is also a Weymouth Bayside Festival arena behind Weymouth Pavilion . It is now £1 to enter during the daytime and £5 during the evening.

The festival is running daily until August 12 and offers all-day live music and entertainment, food courts, more than 50 retail stands and a Dorset arts and crafts zone featuring up to 20 artists and craftsman. There is also a free sports arena on the Beach offering people the chance to try their hand at a variety of different sports.

The ICCI 360 Dome, located in front of Weymouth Pavilion, is screening 360 films and animation.

Lyme Regis-based Jurassic Airline is also running its rides outside the Pavilion.

Visit websites dorsetforyou.com/sailing2012, maritimemix2012.co.uk and visit-dorset.com for more information.

...and don’t forget the Lympics

THE Lyme Lympics are set to burst into life on the beach at 5pm today.

Conger cuddling will be among the bizarre sports included in the town’s own oddball version of the Olympics.

The dead fish is swung on a rope to knock off contestants standing on plinths and flowerpots. The Lympics are expected to be filmed for comedian Rory McGrath’s C5 TV series Champions of the World.

A host of other events are included in the line-up including nettle eating, partner-jousting, children’s tug of war, waiters’ race, eight legged race, mermaid racing and a sea steeplechase.