He made his pledge in an interview published today in the Independent on Sunday, one of several he has given to mark the fact that the Olympics will open in London on July 27, 2012.

 

The London Mayor Boris Johnson will receive the Olympic flag from his Beijing counterpart at the closing ceremony on August 24 to signify that Britain's Capital will be the next host city of the Games.

 

During the closing ceremony London will stage an eight-minute show that will feature former England captain David Beckham, X-Factor winner Leona Lewis and the members from cast of the urban musical Into The Hoods.

 

If it goes wrong or is not well received, Coe knows that London 2012 will be criticised.

 

He told the Independent on Sunday: "It has been called the curse of the handover."

 

The most memorable example of getting it wrong was in the Atlanta Olympics in 1996 when Sydney organisers arranged for plastic kangaroos to be ridden into the arena on mountain bikes.

 

It caused an uproar in Australia but did not stop the Games four years later being hailed as the greatest in history.

 

Coe said: "Australia almost had a complete nervous breakdown afterwards, saying, 'How on earth did we manage to depict ourselves in that way?'"

 

The former double Olympic 1500 metres champion, though, is confident that Britain will be pleased with the show they have planned for Beijing.

 

He said: "I am hoping that people will be uplifted by what we do out there."

 

To read the full article visit http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/others/sebastian-coe-lord-of-theflyers-878276.html.