FOUR years ago, it was the strong emphasis on the young which helped London win the right to host the 2012 Olympic Games in Singapore.

Four years on, the man who helped put together the London bid is back to see how the Asian Youth Games can help London ensure that the youth component remains an important aspect of the 2012 Games.

Said former Olympic champion runner and chairman of the London 2012 Organising Committee Sebastian Coe: 'Having a Youth Games is important because it starts young athletes on the Olympic journey.

'But while exposure to competition and the Games is important, it is also crucial that they understand the nature of the Olympic movement and its values.'

The Olympic values of Excellence, Friendship and Respect will be introduced to the 1,300 young athletes in Singapore through the AYG's culture and education programme.

Coe hopes that the London Games' equivalent - Get Set - will also prove to be a significant part of the 2012 event.

Coe, who won the 1,500m gold at the 1980 and 1984 Games, will also be giving the 28th Olympic Council of Asia General Assembly - which starts today - an update on the London Games.

He said that despite London coming after last year's hugely successful Beijing Olympics, his team are not feeling any pressure to outdo the Chinese.

Beijing operated on a reported budget of US$44 billion. London's budget is said to be US$17.4 billion.

He said: 'The beauty of the Olympics is that it travels to different cities. Our objective is to be different, to show our uniqueness.

'That's the beauty of the Olympics.'