THE greatest sporting show on earth is back in Great Britain. The London 2012 opening ceremony on Friday, July 27 will mark the return of the Olympic Games to these shores after an absence of 64 years.

Seven years after the capital was awarded the Olympic and Paralympic Games, we are now only ten days away from the start of a sporting spectacular.

A total of 10,500 athletes will descend to compete across 26 sports in 39 disciplines at the capital’s 34 venues. Over the 19 days of competition, some 8.8 million spectators will witness feats of speed, skill and endurance.

A man central to Great Britain’s successful bid, which saw them edge out favourites Paris, was Sebastian Coe.

Coe is known to a generation of sports fans as the middle distance athlete who won two Olympic golds and smashed a host of world records in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

But to the younger brigade, he is the man who surpassed his track achievements by delivering the Olympics for London.

The bid was initially way off the pace. But with the timing that he showed so often in an illustrious running career – he broke 12 world records – Coe helped London produce the late charge which saw them pip their French rivals.

He initially joined the campaign team as one of three vice-chairmen. But by May 2004, he was in charge. It was an inspired move. Without it, London would almost surely not be hosting the sporting extravaganza.

As a result of Coe’s vision, emphasis was made on the legacy of the Games for London and Britain.

Plans for a new Olympic park based around the deprived area of Stratford in London’s East End presented a powerful case for transforming the social and sporting landscape.

The vision offered a new national athletics stadium, aquatic centre and velodrome. It also offered several temporary venues. There would be no white elephants.

The bid made use of famous landmarks and sporting venues – tennis at Wimbledon and beach volleyball along Horseguards Parade.

By the time the world’s focus turned to Singapore for the crucial vote on Wednesday, July 6, 2005, the London bid had incredible momentum.

Coe saved his finest masterstroke for the closing moments when he delivered a rousing speech to IOC delegates, drawing on two athletes with links to North Yorkshire.

“When I was 12 years old I was marched into a large school hall with my classmates and we watched grainy pictures from the 1968 Mexico Olympic Games,” he said.

“Two athletes from our home town were competing. John Sherwood won a bronze medal in the 400m hurdles. His wife Sheila just narrowly missed gold in the long jump.

“By the time I was back in my classroom, I knew what I wanted to do – and what I wanted to be. Thirty-five years on, I stand before you with those memories still fresh. Still inspired by this great movement.”

Those words about Selby -born Sherwood and his wife turned the race in London’s favour, and now we can all enjoy the spectacle!