EVERYONE in Basingstoke and Deane can get involved in, and reap benefits from, the Olympics and Paralympics in 2012.

That was the message that shone out from a "Going for Gold" conference designed to explore how the borough can reap maximum benefits from the games coming to London in four years.

A series of speakers explained how people from business, schools, cultural groups and sports organisations in Basingstoke and Deane, can all play their part and get the most out of the historic games.

Councillor Andrew Finney, leader of Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, said the area was well placed to take advantage and encouraged those attending the event at The Ark conference centre to go out and get others involved.

"We are right at the heart of things, close to London and on the line to the coast where the sailing is going to take place," he said.

Cllr Finney said the Olympics are a great opportunity for the borough. He said: "It's not just sports people who can benefit from the Olympics - it's everyone."

Gazette editor Mark Jones, chairman of the Sport and Physical Activity Alliance, explained how the games could help inspire people to lead healthier lives and increase the percentage of those who manage 30 minutes of exercise five times a week.

Chas Morrison, adviser manager at Business Link Hampshire and Isle of Wight, described how there was a major opportunity now for businesses of all sizes, with 75,000 contracts up for grabs for everything from construction to T-shirt printing through the website www.competefor.com He said: "The message to business in this area is don't miss the bus - London 2012 is due right now."

Rhian Pearce, Olympic projects officer for the South East England Development Agency, said London 2012 could leave a lasting legacy not just in sport, but also in transport and in the arts, with numerous artistic events planned as part of the cultural Olympiad that would accompany the Games.

People can sign up to be Olympic volunteers and tens of thousands had already done so, she said.

Jonathan Rouse explained how the three Rotary Clubs in Basingstoke and Deane are working together to help the Olympic cause, raising £3,100 to support Paralympic dressage, sponsoring promising north Hampshire athlete Holly Croxford and lining up an international amateur boxing event between England and Cuba or Russia.

The Active Life Centre in Houndmills, Basingstoke, is in the running to provide a training base for a foreign team in the run-up to the Olympics. Anne Bidmead, the head coach at Basingstoke Gymnastic Club, explained how that would inspire their athletes but also create a logistical headache for them as the club members would need somewhere else to go if an Olympic team uses the venue as a base.

Swimmer Giles Long, gold medalist at the Atlanta 1996 and Sydney 2000 Paralympics, gave an inspirational speech, describing how he went to a party to thank those who helped him succeed and discovered not only his mum, dad and coach there, but also the pool cleaner and his hairdresser.

"That's the first time I realised how many people it took for me to achieve my dreams," he said.

Basingstoke and Mid Hants Athletic Club star Robert Tobin, who narrowly missed out on a medal this summer after the 4x400 metre relay team came fourth in Beijing, and 17-year-old fencing prospect Ben Peggs, of Bramley, talked about the training they were doing to be ready for 2012.

Ben told The Gazette how support from business and other areas of the community would be crucial in helping him reach the Olympics.

He said the conference had been good, adding: "It's definitely broadened my knowledge of what's going towards the facilities for 2012."