Brendan Foster, who established the Great North Run in 1981, and who is targeting involving another million people in running regularly by 2020, told insidethegames that Coe would be specially invited to the landmark race to mark his own inspirational effect as an athlete and chairman of London 2012.

"Seb is going to be there on the day," Foster said.

"He has put on an Olympics that have been emotionally inspiring to so many thousands of people.

"So I want him to be there because he delivered an Olympics that was the most inspirational sports event we have ever had in this country.

"And because when he was running he was the most inspirational runner we have ever had in this country.

"When you are bringing all that down from Mount Olympus to an ordinary level with ordinary people, that's an area in which Seb is extremely comfortable.

Sebastian Coe, pictured at the unveiling of the Olympic Rings on Tower Bridge before the London 2012 Games, will be specially invited to witness the millionth finisher at this year's Great North Run on September 7 ©Getty Images

"We have a good idea of what time the millionth runner will come through, so we know roughly when it will happen, and we will be ready.

"We will have a computer on hand to register the runners as they come through which will click for the millionth runner.

"We will be standing 20 metres past the line, so we will be able to see runner 1,372 or whoever it is, as they walk past.

"Although the field will be packed with runners of the calibre of Mo Farah, Haile Gebrselassie, this person will be the star of the show, even though they don't know it now."

Foster is seeking a new commercial partner to replace Bupa once their 21-year involvement with his events ceases in 2015.

"We are in discussion with several very high profile businesses who want to be involved in mass participation sport and people achieving their dreams," he said, adding that he expects there to be an announcement to coincide with the launch of this year's Great North Run.

Read about Foster's latest plans in the Big Read here.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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July 2014: Brendan Foster - on sporting inspiration, and why he wants one million more running by 2020
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