Sebastian Coe has another finishing line in sight

London Grace and grit in the face of adversity were the defining features of a memorable running career which took Sebastian Coe to Olympic 1,500m titles in Moscow in 1980 and Los Angeles four years later.

Now, after twice summoning the perfect blend of speed, stamina and strategy in the classic Olympic track race, Coe has another finishing line in sight.

Today, the chairman of the London Olympics organising committee embarks on the final lap to the Games opening on July 27 with celebrations to mark the 100-day countdown.

It has been a long journey from his days as a competitor during the height of the Cold War to his present role of ensuring London hosts a successful Games for the third time. In an interview in the organising committee's headquarters in Canary Wharf on an April spring day of sunshine and showers, Coe said his experiences as an Olympic athlete had been a definite help in his current job.

"You want to get across the line in one piece, you want to get to the line in one piece," he said.

"I think the one thing that I have always realised as an athlete is that a lot of the stuff you do that ultimately defines the qualify of how you get across the line is done away from the public gaze.

‘Redouble efforts'

"I think it is also very helpful, not the only aspect, but very helpful to come to the project and see it through the eyes of a competitor.

"It does make me, I guess, redouble my efforts so that I don't ever have a competitor coming to me at the end of these Games and saying, look, because of something you didn't do, we've overlooked, you reduced my chances of competing at the highest level."