FORMER Olympic champion Seb Coe has urged people to get behind the London 2012 Games.

Lord Coe visited Manchester Metropolitan University's Crewe campus yesterday to launch the Cheshire and Warrington Strategy for London 2012.

He also met some of Cheshire's top athletes including Olympic gymnast Beth Tweddle and Matt Dimbylow, who represented Britain at Paralympic Football in the Beijing Games.

A presentation was given of the town's training camp preparations. And Lord Coe joined the Olympians as well as Sir Philip Craven MBE, president of the International Paralympic Committee, who represented Britain at wheelchair basketball from 1972 to 1988, for a question and answer session.

Lord Coe is a double Olympic champion and 12-time world record holder in athletics. He won gold in the 1500m and silver in the 800m at both the Moscow 1980 and Los Angeles 1984 Games.

Lord Coe, who is the chair of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games, talked to sport and coaching students at the Campus Freshers' Fair before visiting the town's Cumberland Sports Centre, a facility listed in the London 2012 Olympic Pre-Games Training Camp Guide.

MMU Cheshire is also one of the regional venues bidding to host a national team training camp ahead of the Games.

The university is included in the official games guide recommended to host training for football, archery, badminton, basketball, volleyball, fencing, table tennis and triathlon.

Lord Coe said: "Our vision is to inspire children and young people through the London 2012 Games.

"The region's athletes at the Beijing 2008 Olympic and Paralympic Games have certainly done this.

"By motivating young people in the North-west and capturing their imagination we can help them to fulfil their potential and create a legacy that will continue long after the London 2012 Games have ended.

"The athletes, coaches, facilities and programmes I'm visiting today provide a springboard for Olympic and Paralympic success in 2012.

"They are also the foundations for building a Games legacy that will provide long-term benefits to people in Crewe and the surrounding area for years to come."

Professor Les Burwitz, who is leading the university's bid for a 2012 training camp, said: "To have facilities up to Olympic training standard for 10 sports is fantastic.

"Our football facilities are brilliant, with outstanding pitches.

"Our other strength is sport science and medicine facilities and expertise."

Dean of MMU Cheshire Dennis Dunn, said: "We are delighted to welcome Lord Coe to MMU and hear how he thinks the people and organisations of Cheshire can benefit from the Olympics being held in this country."