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My afternoon was very different. I went along to Fitzjohn's Primary School in Hampstead. Having spoken with the headmaster a few days earlier, he had mentioned that the main theme of their school assembly would be Paralympic Handover and asked if I wouldn't mind saying a few words. Naturally I agreed, but before the conversation was over he had managed to persuade me to lead the entire assembly!

I admit to feeling slightly nervous as over 100 children filed into the assembly hall at 3 o'clock. My day job requires me to present to the directors of the corporate world, yet the prospect of speaking to an entire school of enthusiastic and impressionable young children was perhaps more daunting. So I thought I'd break the ice by quizzing them about the British successes at the Beijing Games. This worked a treat as their arms shot up in the air each time I asked a question. I was incredibly impressed with their level of knowledge; they knew a lot more about our teams than I expected.

I then showed the Beijing highlights video, which they loved – the loudest 'ooohs and aaahs' came from footage of the Red Arrows, David Beckham and Leona Lewis! I then moved onto the Paralympic Games and explained the significance of the Handover, which had occurred just an hour or so earlier. I explained the Paralympic values – courage, determination, inspiration and equality – and gave examples of Paralympians who had demonstrated these values.

I finished the assembly by encouraging the children to learn from our Paralympians and embrace the Paralympic values in their own lives, whether at school, at home or in the sports field, and while the children pondered how they could do this, I noticed that the teachers were nodding approvingly. As the children then filed out of the assembly hall, one girl came up to me and asked for my autograph. I don't know who she mistook me for but, reluctantly, I obliged.

My overwhelming memory of the day from both visits was how much enthusiasm there is in our schools. There is a huge appetite for all things relating to the Olympic and Paralympic Games and, even four years out, the pupils and teachers already want to be a part of London 2012.