London 2012 Chairman Sebastian Coe has paid tribute to the achievements of African athletes and pledged that a London Olympic Games and Paralympic Games would provide a lasting legacy for sport on the continent.
The double Olympic champion addressed the Assocation of National Olympic Committees of Africa in Ghana just 19 days before the crucial vote to decide which city will host the 2012 Games.
The bid leader added his backing to calls for Africa to host the Games and highlighted the benefits a London Games would have for up-and-coming sports stars all over the world.
"In line with the International Olympic Committee's Pound Report, London will use great existing venues and a series of next generation temporary venues that can be relocated," he told the audience.
"We will use our experience and know-how involving these new re-locatable venues to support the staging of sports events in other parts of the world, including Africa.
"I hope I will have the opportunity to witness the historic first of an African Olympic Games."
Lord Coe, who was joined in Africa by British decathlon legend Daley Thompson, outlined how plans for a London Olympic Institute would benefit talented young athletes from all over the world.
"London is already the favourite city of the world's youth and our new London Olympic Institute will draw many thousands of them from all over the world to learn and to train," he said.
The Institute would include state-of-the-art training and competition facilities, a sports medicine centre and resources for the study of the Olympic Movement.
London's presentation to the meeting included a specially-commissioned film featuring messages of support from the capital's numerous African communities.
Lord Coe also visited a British Council funded project in the Ghanian capital of Accra and highlighted the strong political, social and sporting links between the United Kingdom and Africa.
"That's why we in Britain, through the efforts of our Prime Minister Tony Blair, are showing solidarity with the whole of Africa on issues such as aid and debt relief," he said.
The London 2012 Chairman also revealed that the feats of African runners at the 1968 Games in Mexico had inspired him as a youngster.
"In 1968, as a 12-year-old, I was inspired by the African runners who pretty much cleared the board in every distance event from the 1,500m to the Marathon," he said. "Now my dream is to spread that inspiration to a new generation of young people.
"I want the 12-year-olds of today to be inspired by the Olympic Games and to be inspired to choose sport."
The bid leader added his backing to calls for Africa to host the Games and highlighted the benefits a London Games would have for up-and-coming sports stars all over the world.
"In line with the International Olympic Committee's Pound Report, London will use great existing venues and a series of next generation temporary venues that can be relocated," he told the audience.
"We will use our experience and know-how involving these new re-locatable venues to support the staging of sports events in other parts of the world, including Africa.
"I hope I will have the opportunity to witness the historic first of an African Olympic Games."
Lord Coe, who was joined in Africa by British decathlon legend Daley Thompson, outlined how plans for a London Olympic Institute would benefit talented young athletes from all over the world.
"London is already the favourite city of the world's youth and our new London Olympic Institute will draw many thousands of them from all over the world to learn and to train," he said.
The Institute would include state-of-the-art training and competition facilities, a sports medicine centre and resources for the study of the Olympic Movement.
London's presentation to the meeting included a specially-commissioned film featuring messages of support from the capital's numerous African communities.
Lord Coe also visited a British Council funded project in the Ghanian capital of Accra and highlighted the strong political, social and sporting links between the United Kingdom and Africa.
"That's why we in Britain, through the efforts of our Prime Minister Tony Blair, are showing solidarity with the whole of Africa on issues such as aid and debt relief," he said.
The London 2012 Chairman also revealed that the feats of African runners at the 1968 Games in Mexico had inspired him as a youngster.
"In 1968, as a 12-year-old, I was inspired by the African runners who pretty much cleared the board in every distance event from the 1,500m to the Marathon," he said. "Now my dream is to spread that inspiration to a new generation of young people.
"I want the 12-year-olds of today to be inspired by the Olympic Games and to be inspired to choose sport."
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