Weymouth and Portland Olympic legacy chances 'missed'

Ben Ainslie won his fourth Olympic gold medal in Weymouth and Portland

Opportunities to promote Weymouth and Portland after the London Olympic and Paralympic sailing events have been missed, a report has said.

The House of Lords Olympic Legacy Committee claimed promotion after the 2012 Games were too "London-centric".

It said footage of the Dorset venue could have been used to boost tourism, while requests for public money for major events had been turned down.

The government said it was committed to creating a legacy outside the capital.

The report said requests for financial help from Weymouth and Portland Sailing Authority to support events had not succeeded.

'Lasting change'

It said "fantastic" television coverage from the Games showing the area, the Georgian seafront and the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site had not been used.

"The area has potential for tourism expansion and water sports and outdoor activity," the report stated.

"But despite requests to Visit England and Visit Britain this has not been achieved, which is a huge missed opportunity."

The report also said it was unclear who was responsible for taking the legacy forward outside London, leading to the perception the process was too "London-centric".

Peers called on the government to give responsibility for delivering the legacy outside the capital to a designated minister.

A Department for Culture, Media and Sport spokesman said: "The government remains committed to building on the legacy created from hosting the [Games] to benefit the entire country for generations to come.

"Our legacy has been hailed by the International Olympic Committee as a 'blueprint' for future Games and over the next 10 years we aim to use the inspiration of 2012 to deliver lasting change."