Hackney pupils met one of the top driving forces of the London Olympics this week as they get set for the 2012 Games.

Seb Coe, athletics champion and chairman of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG), visited Mossbourne Community Academy in Downs Park Road on Tuesday (March 1) to see how they are being inspired by the build up.

Students from every year group gave their special guest a tour of their school, introduced their Met-Track athletics coaching programme and asked him questions about how the Games would affect their lives.

Lord Coe, who trained at Hackney’s Morningside Primary School as a young athlete, also presented Mossbourne with the Get Set Network plaque in recognition of its work around the Olympics.

“I’m thrilled to have visited Mossbourne Community Academy and seen for myself how inspired its students are by the London 2012 Games,” he said.

“Our vision has always been to use the power of the Games to inspire change and this school is making this a reality. Meeting some of the students today has shown me how they are making the most of the London 2012 Games coming to London in just over 500 days time.”