Steve Backley (right) showed how it's done at the tournament

Sir Steve Redgrave, runner Steve Cram, javelin thrower Steve Backley and 800m paralympic champion Danny Crates marked 2012 days until the games start.

"We are under 30 minutes from the games site. It is a terrific opportunity for Medway," said councillor Howard Doe.

The council announced an overhaul of the Black Lion Leisure Centre in Gillingham as part of the launch.

We want to up the profile of sport in the Medway towns and show them what we can do Howard Doe

There will be a new gymnastics centre and athletics track and specialist sports science facilities for the University of Kent at Medway campus and Mid Kent College.

Detailed plans will be submitted for planning permission in the coming months, and it is hoped work will begin later this year.

Paralympic champion Dame Tanni Grey-Thomson and Mr Crates are to be patrons of Medway's inaugural Youth Disability Games, to be held in June at Deangate Ridge.

A skiing event will also be will be held at the Capstone Ski Centre.

There will be a bid to provide training camp facilities for the Olympics in the run-up to 2012 and Aspire programmes will encourage people in Medway to take part in sport, and train as coaches.

"We want to up the profile of sport in the Medway towns and show them what we can do," said Mr Doe.

Tuesday's launch started with a business breakfast with Mr Backley and a table tennis tournament at the Black Lion centre for 100 schoolchildren.

Sports students quizzed Mr Cram and Mr Crates at a lunch, which was to be followed by a dinner at the Corn Exchange, Rochester with an address by Sir Steve Redgrave.