VIDEO: Lord Seb Coe checks on Olympic progress

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Video 1

Olympic legend Sebastian Coe met some of the young people who may one day bring sporting glory of their own to Britain when he came to town.

Lord Coe won the 1,500m gold medal at the Olympic Games in 1980 and 1984, setting eight outdoor and three indoor world records. He went on to head the successful London bid to host the 2012 Summer Olympics and now chairs the organising committee.

On Thursday he visited the Oakley Court Hotel in Windsor Road, Water Oakley to see for himself how local prepations are going.

One of the most important venues during the Olympics will be Dorney Lake where the rowing and canoeing events will take place.  The surrounding towns of Windsor, Maidenhead and Slough will all be affected.  

It had been intended for young rowers from Windsor Boys School and Eton Excelsior Rowing Club to stage a display on the river behind the hotel for Lord Coe.
Strong currents caused this to be cancelled but Lord Coe soon cheered up the disappointed youngsters by chatting to them about their favourite sport.

Lord Coe is no stranger to Dorney Rowing Lake and told our reporter Francis Batt: "Dorney Lake has got to be one of the best and most tested Olympic venues in the world.
"It has already hosted the World Rowing Championships and nowhere is more photogenic. The Americans in particular can't believe an Olympic venue really has Windsor Castle in the background."

He said he believed rowing could play a major role in the 2012 Olympics and insisted that its old image as a sport for the upper classes was totally out of date.
He said: "Inner city schools are discovering the sport and scoring great successes in it."

During his visit to the Oakley Court Lord Coe met officers and councillors from the Royal Borough, who are already working to get the area ready for the summer of 2012 as well as Pam Alexander, the chairman of the South East Partnership for the 2012 games.

WATCH: See our video report of his visit above.