A local newspaper website has secured an exclusive message from London Olympics boss Seb Coe as the countdown to the Games gets under way.

With exactly a year to go until the Olympics begins, the organising committee chairman delivered a personal message to Londoners via Archant-owned portal London24.com.

The site covers the whole of the capital, taking content from around 30 more local websites associated with the gruop’s weekly titles in London.

Lord Coe’s message, vowing to make the city proud in 2012, was secured after an approach by the site’s editor, Simon Bull.

He said:  “In exactly a year’s time our city will be getting ready to celebrate the beginning of the greatest show on earth.

“London is already one of the most atmospheric, diverse and in my view greatest cities on earth. Next summer, when the Olympic and Paralympic Games come to town, it will be simply magical.

“The prospect of competing at a home Games for British athletes is a once in a lifetime opportunity and for athletes coming from around the world, they know that London is going to be pretty special because the chances are, such is our great diversity, that they’ll have a ‘home’ crowd waiting for them here too.

“We will stage a Games that London will be proud of. I hope whether you are in a venue or watching at home you will get behind us and our athletes – we won’t let you down.”