While the Special Olympics athletes are busy training, hundreds of people behind the scenes are making sure that venues across the county are ready for the big event.

More than 2,700 athletes, 1,200 coaches and 1,500 volunteers will descend on Leicester over the week of the games, to watch 21 sports taking place in colleges, clubs and parks throughout the county and Rutland.

The Special Olympics is coming to the city for the second time in its 31-year history.

By the time the crowds arrive for the opening ceremony at the Walkers Stadium, each venue will be awash with the official orange, blue and white colours.

Some 30 marquees, 56 sets of portable toilets, 12 seating units and eight first-aid cabins will be erected to provide additional space where it is needed at some of the venues.

At Crown Hills Community College, which is hosting the 11-a-side football, the pitches have been returfed and health and safety officials are currently arranging where to put medical and catering facilities.

John Parker, from the premises team at Crown Hills, said: "There's lots of things to sort out. We need to sort out which rooms to use for first-aid, we've got to look at getting power and water for the catering facilities.

"There's been a lot of planning going into the pitch over the past 18 months as well."

At Braunstone Leisure Centre, a plasma screen will be set up in a marquee outside so that spectators can see the action in the pool.

Sally Grundy, sports facilities and events director for the games, has been visiting the different sites in the run-up to the event.

She said: "We have been checking every site for the past 18 months. It takes a long time to get it all sorted."

Ken Kirk, health and safety adviser for Leicester City Council, said: "There's a large team of us visiting the sites.

"We're ensuring that everything is being done to make them as safe as can be expected."

The biggest venue of the event is the Walkers Stadium, which will host the opening ceremony on July 25. Organisers are hoping to get more than 25,000 to the event.

Games director Steve Humphries said: "The Leicester Tigers played host to the '89 games and many will recall the unforgettable atmosphere.

"The Walkers Stadium will provide the perfect setting for Leicestershire people to once again salute the gallant and courageous efforts of Special Olympics athletes."