With less than a year to go until London 2012, the capital is at a more advanced stage in their preparations to host the Olympics and Paralympics than any host city has been in the past.

Sir Craig claimed that this is something that the IOC are very pleased about and that it has reflected very well on Coe himself.

"Seb is a remarkable combination of many different skills," Sir Craig told insidethegames.

"He has two Olympic gold medals in his collection, he has been in the world of politics, he has been in the world of business, he is wonderfully effective with the media and he is extremely well known.

"It is difficult to think of better leadership qualities than that and he is very highly regarded by the IOC for the work he has done in London.

"I'm sure the IOC would be very comfortable to have Seb as a member and he would be most welcome."

Britain has four IOC members, including Sir Craig.

International Paralympic Committee (IPC) President Sir Philip Craven, IOC Athletes' Commission member Adam Pengilly and the Princess Royal all current serving as members.

The large British IOC contingent means that Coe's most likely route into the organisation is to be elected President of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) - a role that brings with it automatic IOC membership.

Current IAAF President Lamine Diack is set to stand for his last four-year term next month with Coe, along with Ukraine's 1988 Olympic pole vault champion Sergey Bubka, tipped as the two most likely candidates to replace the Senegalese when he steps down.

Both are currently vice presidents at the IAAF.


Sir Craig's comments are supported by another IOC Executive Board member Denis Oswald (pictured second right with Coe and London 2012 chief executive Paul Deighton and IOC Olympic Director Gilbert Felli) who said he would love to see Coe become a member of the organisation.

"Certainly I would like to see Seb in the IOC," Oswald told insidethegames.

"He is somebody who has contributed a lot to the Olympic Movement, he has great experience in sport and I would be very happy if he could join us soon."

Oswald, who is chair of the IOC Coordination Commission for London 2012, added that Coe has particularly impressed the organisation by delivering venues on time and on budget.

"We are very pleased because with a year to go most of the venues are finished with only a few minor details needed and we have not been in such a comfortable position at previous Games.

"At previous Games, there are been situations where we have been fighting to have things done, like in Athens where I was also chair IOC Coordination Commission, and things were only done in the last minute.

"But this is not the case in London because Seb and the Organising Committee have done such a fantastic job."

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