As the 2024 Olympics get under way in Paris, we're remembering when the world came to Weymouth and Portland for the sailing events in the 2012 Olympics.
After seven long years of planning, the Olympics finally got underway in July 2012.
Weymouth beach was packed with crowds for the opening ceremony and the loudest cheers were reserved for the sailors of Team GB.
The opening ceremony followed a hugely-successful torch relay as thousands of people turned out to welcome the Olympic Flame to Dorset.
People took to the streets for their once-in-a-lifetime chance to see the Olympic Flame pass through.
The torch relay entered the north of the county and criss-crossed Dorset before making a dramatic arrival by boat on Weymouth Beach.
Sir Ben Ainslie became the greatest sailing Olympian of all time as he secured a fourth successive gold medal.
Crowds flocked into Weymouth to watch him secure the title in what became known as 'Ainslie Sunday'.
Team GB's sailors were given a thunderous welcome as thousands of people lined the streets of Weymouth and Portland for an open-top bus parade.
A total of 15 Olympians, including the record-breaking Ben Ainslie, saluted the crowds as a convoy of police vehicles led the victory bus through the winding streets of the borough.
But what really captured our imagination in Dorset in July 2012?
Here's our top five moments in Weymouth and Portland of the 2012 Olympics.
1.) The theatre of it all
While some may have thought it was all about the sport, the Olympic sailing brought events to the area that even wowed non-sports lovers.
How good was Battle for the Winds? (Image: Supplied)
We were all entertained by the Battle for the Winds extravaganza.
The three-day event, held on Weymouth Beach and Portland’s High Angle Battery, was part of the Maritime Mix Cultural Olympiad by the Sea.
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And do you remember the show's grand finale? Groups of 100 volunteers at a time waded into the sea on Saturday, July 28, 2012, carrying flaming torches as part of the spectacular outdoor performance to launch the Olympic and Paralympic sailing and windsurfing events. It was a beautiful sight to see.
Finale of Battle for the Winds on Weymouth beach (Image: Supplied)
2.) The excitement of seeing Team GB win a haul of medals
Great Britain's Ben Ainslie celebrates winning his fourth gold medal, elevating him to the status of greatest ever sailing Olympian (Image: Chris Ison/PA Wire)
A special viewing area was set up in the Nothe gardens and onlookers saw Sir Ben Ainslie become the most successful sailor in Olympic history with gold in the Finn class, Hannah Mills and Saskia Clark win their first silver medals and Luke Patience, Stuart Bithell and Nick Dempsey win silver medals in the Star and RS:X classes.
3.) Special visitors
The Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy welcomed some special visitors, including Sebastian Coe, the Duchess of Cambridge and Princess Anne.
The then-Duchess of Cambridge shares a joke with Ben Ainslie, laser sailor Paul Goodison and 470 sailors Stuart Bithell and Luke Patience during a visit to the Olympic sailing venue in Weymouth (Image: David Jones/PA Wire)
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4.) An easier journey into and out of Weymouth
Twelve years on the Olympic legacy remains with us.
It's hard to remember what it was like putting up with traffic at a standstill along Dorchester Road travelling north of Weymouth, before the new relief road was built to ease congestion.
Aerial view of the roadworks for the new Weymouth Relief Road (Image: Dorset Media Service)
5.) A chance to be really patriotic and wave our flag with pride
Spectators pack onto the beach in Weymouth to watch Ben Ainslie winning a gold medal (Image: Chris Ison/PA Wire)
The patriotic atmosphere in the area was unlike anything else we've ever seen.
Even on Super Saturday, when Team GB won three gold medals in the space of 44 minutes that were nothing to do with the sailing and Mo Farah, Jessica Ennis-Hill and Greg Rutherford became national heroes, Weymouth was abuzz with people watching the victories on the Weymouth Beach Live Site.
Crowds go wild at the Weymouth beach live site (Image: Ben Birchall/PA Wire)
Residents and visitors had a wonderful Olympic experience in the borough and the Live Site was a huge hit.
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