I am extremely proud and privileged to be chief executive of UK Sport and even more so to be a part of the wider Olympic and Paralympic family who have joined us in St Andrews over the past three days at our annual World Class Performance Conference.

The aim of the conference is to reflect on and learn from collective experiences of the high quality individuals across different sports and environments, in order to share best practice and prepare for the challenges ahead.

The theme this year has been "Courage" - highlighting the need for tough and brave decisions, conversations and actions at this vital time in the Olympic cycle.

In advance of arriving, making the move up here to St Andrews for our tenth, and my ninth, conference was a brave decision.

But it was the right one.

These past three days more than 300 coaches, performance directors and support staff from over 30 Olympic and Paralympic sports have been able to lock themselves away, discuss key issues, and listen to different ways of thinking in a very suitable environment.

There has been a real feeling of togetherness and readiness to take on any challenges that are coming our way.

Key partners such as the BOA, BPA, the four sports institutes, Sports Coach UK were all here and helping to ensure that no stone is left unturned in our collective pursuit of excellence in the coming years.

The speakers and sessions were once again outstanding.

Truly world class.

But, for me, the most important aspect of the conference was the sharing that delegates were able to do.

The teamwork that inevitably comes from being shut away together for three days.

The discussion over coffee between two different head coaches, from two completely different sports, about a similar problem.

The dinner conversations between two performance directors, with similar goals but slightly different methods in place for getting there.

Working together has never been more important and has never been more on show than it was this week.

One thing that has been undeniably evident this week has been the feeling of excitement that is building ahead of 2012.

Olympic and Paralympic sport has had an incredible year in 2010 and we have never been better placed two years out from a Games, thanks to the hard work and determination of all our athletes, coaches and support staff.

The conference gives everyone the opportunity to share these experiences from 2010, take time out, reflect and learn.

But that doesn't mean stop, or sit still, or wait.

And I know that won't happen.

The people involved in this joint dream won't let it and there is a definite feeling here at the conference that the time is coming to deliver and we are ready for it.

I have also noticed another important feeling beginning to grow and take hold.

That is the feeling that things are in fact only just beginning.

That although we are about to start the final assent to the top of one mountain, we can also see the next peak, the next challenge.

Sochi and Glasgow 2014 are in sight and Rio 2016 is already firmly in our minds.

What we all do now will make it easier or harder for those dedicated to making those events a success in performance terms.

We have the support and will to make sure it is easier.

The road ahead is as clear as it has ever been.

We have the resources following the recent Comprehensive Spending Review, we can see the journey through to London and beyond and we now must all do everything we can to make the nation proud.

There is no reason why we can't and, having spent the last three days here in St Andrews, I can see no reason why we won't.

Liz Nicholl is the chief executive of UK Sport, the nation's high performance sports agency. For more information on UK Sport click here