The exhibition sees a runner sprint through the site's neo-classical sculpture galleries every 30 seconds.

 

Ripples of applause greeted the athletes as members of the public recognised the famous faces.

Coe, the 1980 and 1984 Olympic 1500 metres champion and chairman of the London 2012 Olympic Organising Committee, was joined by Dame Kelly, Jonathan Edwards and sprinter Marlon Devonish, last year's British Athlete of the Year.

 

Coe said: "It was really great.

 

"It was lovely and there was a very enthusiastic audience.

 

"I came here a few weeks ago and I just thought I would be very happy to be part of that."

 

Holmes, the 2004 Olympic 800m and 1500m champion, looked as fit as she did when she used to compete.

 

She said: "For me personally, sport is something that captures the imagination of everybody, but also what we have [culture] is very unique in this country.

 

"It means no matter what background you're from, you can be part of this whole experience and we want everybody to be united.

 

"I think by doing media, culture, art and sport, that's what we have to do.

 

"And it's great to be part of an event that's promoting the Cultural Olympiad."

Edwards, the 2000 Olympic triple jump champion and world record holder, said: "I absolutely loved it.

 

"It is a great mix of art and sport and I just loved running down the marble hall of Tate Britain."

More than 600 cultural events, ranging from the highbrow to the eye-catching and plain strange, are taking place throughout the UK until Sunday.

The aim is to showcase Britain's cultural talents and provide a taster to members of the public of what is on offer.

Coe admmited that it will be a "challenge" to maintain enthusiasm across the board until 2012 but said there is a wealth of arts and cultural offerings which will make it worthwhile.

He said: "It will be a challenge but I'm thinking that it is not that insuperable because what we have in this country is a creative raft of people who want to take part."