Little town hits the big time

LONDON, England (CNN) -- Taking accommodation bookings five years in advance is not something the locals in the small town of Portland, England are used to -- but with the Olympic Games coming to town in 2012 -- it is something they're starting to embrace.

In summer 2007, Margaret Dunlop, owner of Queen Anne House bed and breakfast in Portland had a flurry of enquiries about rooms for the year 2012.

The interest, like many of the calls and emails she has had since, is related to the Olympic Games, and the new-found demand to visit the town is unprecedented.

Sitting on the south coast of England, Portland and the neighboring area of Weymouth will host the sailing events at the 2012 Games -- and long before the competition starts the Olympics are having a huge impact on the community.

The Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy (WPNSA) will act as the venue for competition, while in the surrounding area a substantial new development on Osprey Quay is underway.

A new retail area and marina are planned, and the development has already attracted a prominent super-yacht building company.

Building on a massive complex of 600 apartments has begun and the Royal Yachting Association (RYA) has announced it will build a base in the area for the British team, which is likely to include further accommodation.

Needless to say, the usually tranquil area is currently home to the noise of cranes, loaders and construction workers, while trucks roll in and out of the area by the minute. The place is buzzing.

Mayor of Weymouth and Portland Borough Council, Tim Munro, told CNN the community was strongly supporting the event -- with tens of thousands of people (in a borough of only 70,000 people) turning up to Weymouth and Portland's Olympic handover event.

"It's pretty exciting, it has been going on for about two and a half years now but it feels like it has happened so quickly."

It hasn't always been like this. Munro said the area has come through some tough times after the Royal Navy withdrew from its base at Portland in the 1990s.

"When the Navy left that was a huge blow to our economy. There was a loss of jobs and revenue."

Census data shows the population of Portland declined in the ten years between 1991 and 2001, while a 2006 estimate calculated a further fall.

Munro said the Olympics presented a chance to turn those issues around and create a sustainable future.

"Working out a strong path forward is always a worry for local politicians. I think [the Olympics] will stabilize what happens in the area for years to come. Hopefully we will have a successful economy."

He added that without the Games, "the development that is occurring wouldn't have happened as quickly."

With the overall area booming, one of the biggest benefactors has been the sailing community.

The WPNSA, which is hosting the event, is currently receiving a new slipway that is expected to be completed in November.

The slipway backs onto a sizeable harbor area with consistent southerly winds which should provide perfect conditions for the Olympic competition.

Chris Knight, business manager at WPNSA told CNN that having the slipway finished early will make the next three years very exciting

"We have three clear summers to work out the most efficient way of running the event. The challenge is to best utilize the new resources we have."

And with several major events to be held in the area prior to the Games, as well as the desire of teams to stay and acclimatize to the local weather conditions -- there is going to be plenty happening before the event itself.

Knight said the Academy was looking at how to make the development sustainable so the benefits would extend into the future.

Matt Bridge, manager of Sail-Laser training school, which is based at the Weymouth and Portland academy, said the interest in the Games was also driving a strong demand in lessons for beginners.

During a two week period in the summer the sailing school had 1,000 children in boats and on the water, Bridge said.

"Suddenly it seems everyone has decided 'I suppose we should try this sailing thing out,'" he added.

As the community roars into preparation for the Games, Dunlop said she is still undecided about how and when to take bookings for the event and the regattas leading up to it.

Either way, there is no question that her rooms will be full.