Coe promises spectacular Games

Sebastian Coe.

London is undaunted at having to follow Beijing when it hosts the next Olympics and Paralympics in 2012, according to the chief organiser Sebastian Coe. Coe said the British capital had learned many important lessons from this year's Paralympics, which he said would be remembered for "wonderful elite sport, superb organisation, stunning venues and spectacular opening and closing ceremonies". "We don't find it daunting. I can only relate it to when I was sitting in a stadium when I was still a competitor watching an outstanding performance in my own event," he said.

"I didn't feel cowed by it, I went out and wanted to emulate or better it. Beijing has delivered a spectacular Games and we will also deliver a spectacular Games." Coe said London had learned the Games was not just about the timely delivery of infrastructure, however important that was, but also about legacy. "Athletes have to be at the centre of these championships, you have to deliver well in so many other function areas," he said.

"Secondly, the presentation of the sports to further and foster the understanding of those sports with one aim in mind to broaden the interest among young people in Olympic and Paralympic sport. "We want to be able to deliver the same full stadiums in London," he said. "I think we have a very good chance of doing that given our own emotional attachment to the Paralympic movement." * Agencies