He is in the Chinese capital to watch the closing stages of the Paralympics, including the closing ceremony in the Bird's Nest Stadium tomorrow which will feature an eight minute handover segment from London 2012.

 

The two-time Olympic 1500 metres champion said: "It is a massive responsibility [following Beijing].

 

"We don't find it daunting.

 

"I think that I can only relate it to sitting in a stadium when I was a competitor watching an outstanding performance in my own event.

 

"I didn't feel cowed by it.

 

"I went out and wanted to emulate it or even do better.

 

"Beijing has delivered a spectacular Games and we will also deliver a spectacular Games.''

 

The key, the London 2012 chairman claimed for the capital to be as successful as Beijing, was recruiting enough volunteers and training them properly.

 

Coe said: "I have absolutely no doubt that we will deliver a first-rate volunteer programme with all the relevant linguistic and social skills that are necessary to make our games a great Games.

 

The 1948 London Olympics pioneered the use of volunteers, Coe said, adding that Britain's tradition of volunteerism would be evident in four years.

 

He said: "We have more people involved in volunteer organisations in the length and breadth of the UK,.

 

"Sport - any number of activities - would be unrecognisable but for the quality of the legion of volunteers.''