MORE than 6,000 spectators are set to visit Lydiard Park this weekend as the much-heralded UK Corporate Games finally gets underway tomorrow.

And that will see tens of thousands of pints of beers and a similar number of burgers and hot dogs being consumed throughout the three days.

Organisers were putting the finishing touches to marquees and the giant stage at the games headquarters outside Lydiard House yesterday.

But the huge centrepiece of the corporate village will be a futuristic three-sided tent, which games chiefs have labelled the SuperCentre.

"The tent will be used for athletes' registration and will also host the games party," said UK Corporate Games director Esther Nicholls at Lydiard Park yesterday.

"We are catering for 3,000 people at the party and it will be for athletes, friends, colleagues and VIPs.

"But the rest of the village will be open to the public over the three days. It is the first time we have ever opened the games up to the public and we estimate that there will be 6,000 spectators here at Lydiard Park.

"There will be between 15 and 20 food stalls and a similar number of marquees that will be taken up by businesses."

The village will also be served by a 30ft bar, while a 70ft bar will be installed in the SuperCentre for the games party on Saturday night.

"There is going to be an awful lot of food and drink consumed over the weekend and it promises to be a great event," added Miss Nicholls.

"We will have entertainment on the main stage and there will also be roaming acts such as Jake the Juggler who will entertain the crowds.

"Work to put up the tents and marquees has been going on since last Friday, so it is a massive operation.

"There will also be between 300 and 400 local people who will be employed as games staff and they will be working as co-ordinators and event marshals on the day."

As well as the thousands of spectators, the games have attracted more than of 6,000 competitors from 150 companies.

Registration for the sporting event will take place this evening between 7pm and 9pm and the games start in earnest tomorrow when badminton, golf, hockey, karting, squash, tennis and tenpin bowling all get going.

The rest of the 21 sports, which include everything from football to table tennis and softball to dragon boat racing, are running over the weekend.

Princess Anne is scheduled to open the games when she visits Lydiard Park tomorrow at 11am and there is also the family fun run immediately afterwards.

But the weekend is not just about the sporting action. Swindon residents have been invited to Lydiard Park to enjoy a huge free family festival, with bouncing kangaroos, a unicycling juggler, an Abba tribute band, other local bands, and other entertainers.

The England World Cup warm-up football international against Jamaica is being transmitted via a big screen on Saturday.

And on Sunday afternoon, visitors can enjoy the mellow sounds of the King Swingers.

Anyone wishing to attend the games should access Lydiard Park via the Hook Street entrance as the Hay Lane entrance to Lydiard House will be closed throughout the weekend.