Coe Eyes Top Job at British Olympic Association

After successfully overseeing the London Games, Sebastian Coe wants to take charge of Britain's quest to produce Olympic champions of the future.

The two-time Olympic middle-distance champion announced Monday that he will be a candidate to replace Colin Moynihan as chairman of the British Olympic Association.

"I have been asked and I'm happy for my name to go forward," Coe said after a parade through London by Britain's Olympic and Paralympic athletes. "I was asked formally and on this day of all days why wouldn't you want to help.

"I wouldn't presume anything but I was asked, I thought about it, and I have always had a huge debt of gratitude to the British Olympic Association. They fought to allow me to go to Moscow."

Coe won the first of his 1,500 meters Olympic titles in the Russian capital in 1980 after defying calls to boycott of the games following the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.

"And actually everything I have done in the last few years might not have been possible had I not had that Olympic experience," Coe said.

Coe is set to be unopposed for the BOA chairmanship, although potential rivals have until September 24 to register their interest.

"I don't think there is anyone else you could put there," said Zara Phillips, the granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth II who won silver for Britain in equestrian.

But Coe might not stay in the job for long if he's elected.

Already an IAAF vice president, Coe has said he wants to replace Lamine Diack as head of track and field's governing body in three years.

Coe's stock in international sport has never been higher after the Olympics and Paralympics were staged without any significant problems after almost a decade working on the bid and then then heading the organizing committee.

"It is the first morning since October 2003 that I have woken up without having to think about whether we are going to win a bid or whether we are going to be able to deliver a games," Coe said, a day after the Paralympic closing ceremony. "So it was an unusual morning for me, standing on the Mall saluting the most extraordinary people."