OLYMPIC heroes Paul Goodison and Jonathan Edwards joined hundreds of people to unveil the completed Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy.

The world class sailing centre is the first Olympic venue to be completed ahead of the 2012 Games.

World-record breaker and Olympic gold medallist triple jumper, Jonathan Edwards entertained youngsters from Weymouth’s Beechcroft Primary School and Portland’s St George’s Primary School by measuring out the length of his famous 18.25 jump on the new pontoons.

He said: “It’s a huge privilege to be here.

“I was involved in the bid, I’ve seen the drawings and developments so to actually be here where the Olympic and Paralympic sailing will take place in 2012 is tremendously exciting.

“The things we dreamed about are becoming a reality, it’s hugely inspiring and this is by any standard a truly outstanding facility.”

The Olympic Delivery Authority’s (ODA) completed construction work includes a new permanent 250-metre slipway and new race boat parking, lifting and mooring facilities.

ODA director Ralph Luck said work was finished ahead of time and within budget.

Beijing Olympic gold medallist Laser sailor Paul Goodison, of Wyke Regis, said he was excited to have world-class facilities less than a mile away from his house.

He said: “On a scale with China it’s a much smaller facility but that’s not a bad thing.

“In China it was almost too big and took too long to get from one place to another.

“Here it’s nicely contained in one area and we have all the facilities we need, so although it’s not the biggest it’s probably one of the best in the world.”

Among the event’s celebrities was 12-year-old Adam Greaves from Southwell, Portland, who got into sailing through The Chesil Trust’s Sail for a Fiver scheme.

He posed in a dinghy and took part in interviews throughout the day.

Other guests included members of the sailing community, Weymouth and Portland Mayor Tim Munro and Portland Town Mayor Sandy West.

Jim Knight, MP for South Dorset, said: “It’s tangible how exciting this is and it’s not just for Weymouth and Portland but for the whole country.

“We’ve got Adam here who was recognised in the Sail for a Fiver scheme as having potential for sailing.

“I hope there’s going to be plenty more Adams and people from all over the borough will enjoy the facilities and make the most of it.”