Olympics: 2012 sailing could be hit by poor transport

LONDON - The success of the yachting events at London's 2012 Olympics could be hampered by a transport infrastructure which is currently "wholly inadequate", British MPs were told today.

The sailing events are to be staged at the 7.85 million pounds Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy which was opened in June in Dorset on England's south coast.

But the House of Commons Transport Committee were told that not only roads but also rail links were a problem and that Weymouth suffers from "being at the end of a cul-de-sac".

Miles Butler, Dorset County Council director, told the committee he felt Weymouth's issues of transport were not receiving the same attention as the issues of transport in London.

"The evidence is that we are a little bit off-radar," he said.

"We have not yet seen the evidence that the needs of our area are being given the same attention as the events in London, yet interest in sailing is going to be enormous."

The transport committee was taking evidence in its continuing inquiry into delivering transport for the 2012 Olympics.

- REUTERS