Coe, the vice-president of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), was joined at a special dinner in Belem by many of the Brazilian runners he used to run against.

 

These included Joaquim Cruz, who beat Coe to the Olympic gold medal in the 800 metres at the 1984 Games in Los Angeles.

 

Coe later regained his revenge by winnwing the 1500m, the second of two Olympic titles he won over the distance.

 

Also at the dinner were Agberto Guimarães, a finalist in the 1980 Olympic 800m in Moscow when Coe had been beaten into second by his great rival Steve Ovett, and José Luiz Barbosa , a former rival on the grand prix circuit.

 

Coe took time during the dinner to praise the work of Dr. Roberto Gesta de Melo (pictured), the president of the South American federation.

 

Coe said: “When I joined the IAAF in 2003, I immediately witnessed how hard Dr. Gesta de Melo works to support the interests of the South American nations.