MADRID – Sebastian Coe, the president of the British Olympic Association (BOA) and the Olympic and Paralympic Legacy ambassador for London 2012, was awarded the Royal Order of Sports Merit in Madrid on Tuesday.

The president of Spain’s Superior Sports Council, Miguel Cardenal, presented Coe with the award, which consists of a gold medal.

Coe met on Tuesday morning with Madrid Mayor Ana Botella and afterwards participated in an information breakfast before going to the council, where he met with the president of the Spanish Paralympic Committee, Miguel Carballeda, to speak with him about the current status of paralympic sports.

Coe was also president of the organizing committee for the 2012 London Olympic Games held last summer.

At all the events he attended in the Spanish capital, the former athlete wished Madrid good luck in its bid to host the 2020 Games as it goes up against Tokyo and Istanbul for the honor. EFE