Lord Coe has been named a Companion of Honour in the New Year Honours list
LOCOG chairman Lord Coe has been named a Companion of Honour for his work before and during London 2012
Last Updated: 29/12/12 3:35am
Coe, a gold medallist over 1,500 metres in Moscow in 1980 and four years later in Los Angeles, was made a life peer back in 2000 after a spell in politics and working for William Hague as his chief of staff.
He took over as chairman of the bid company before the announcement that the games would be held in London was made in 2005, with his presentation to the International Olympic Committee was viewed to have been very effective in securing the Games.
A position as chairman of the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games came next for the 56-year-old, and with the summer proving to be such a success, he earned plenty of praise in the media.
He now moves on to working as chairman of the British Olympic Association with a fresh honour, one conferred on men and women for recognised services of national importance.
Previous recipients of the honour include painter Lucian Freud, Professor Stephen Hawking, naturalist Sir David Attenborough, painter David Hockney and historian Dr Eric Hobsbawm.
All of the British gold medallists who had not been recognised previously were awarded at least an MBE, and Coe described the list as "a wonderful end to this unique Olympic and Paralympic Year."
He said: "It recognises the achievements of our sportsmen and women who inspired the nation. This year's list also recognises those behind the scenes at LOCOG for outstanding leadership and delivery of the world's largest sporting events.
"I am incredibly proud of them all and our partners who made Britain proud this summer."
Coe's deputy, Sir Keith Mills, is made a Knight Grand Cross while LOCOG chief executive Lord Deighton becomes a Knight Commander.
Other figures to receive honours include LOCOG's director of sport Debbie Jevans and London 2012 director Neale Coleman, who are both made CBEs, while communications chief Jackie Brock-Doyle becomes an OBE.