By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year

September 10 - Sebastian Coe today called on Australians to encourage Britons to sign-up to volunteer for London 2012 and help eclipse Sydney 2000 as the best-ever Olympics and Paralympics.


The chairman of London 2012 claimed that the quality of the volunteers the capital is able to attract will determine the success of the Games.

He said: "If there is anything I would really like Australians to help me with - through Facebook, Twitter - it's just to inspire people in the UK to pick up the challenge of volunteering.

"The difference between a good and a great Games in Sydney, for me, was the quality of your volunteers.

"To paraphrase a famous movie, I think for most of us arriving in Australia for the Games you had us at 'hello'."

London 2012 launched the first part of its volunteer programme in July and Coe is due to unveil the next bit during a special ceremony from Australia next Wednesday (September 15) where he will be attending the tenth anniversary celebrations of Sydney 2000.

Coe said: "Sydney embraced the Games like no other city I have ever witnessed.

"I want to take the spirit and humanity of Barcelona, the forensic eye for detail that was Beijing.

"I want to take the best from the best."

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