Sebastian Coe has warned that producing British gold medal winners will be crucial to the success of the London 2012 Olympic Games.

''Britain performing well in these Games is not the icing on the cake. It's pretty well the whole ingredient; it's crucial,'' said Coe the chairman of the 2012 organising committee.

Lord Coe told UK Sport's seventh annual major events conference in London: ''The Olympic and Paralympic Games are not just about full houses, great merchandise and profit. They are also about creating a well-stocked shop window for sport in the UK.

''The Games will not be a good Games if that shop window is empty or if there is no evidence that more young people are taking up sport.

''The success of the Games will not be judged on how many new railway lines have been built or how many hotel rooms have been filled.''

Coe, himself a double Olympic champion, knows the British public will ultimately judge the success of 2012 on the number of domestic medal winners and he pleaded to everyone involved in sport in the UK - from teachers to coaches and performance directors - to make every effort to produce the champions of the future.

Describing it as ''one of our biggest challenges,'' he knows from experience the timescale is important.

Seven years after winning at the English Schools' Athletics Championships, Coe took the 1500 metres gold medal at the 1980 Moscow Olympics.

''Quite simply the Games are the biggest opportunity sport in this country has ever had. It is one we must not squander,'' warned Coe, who acknowledges the involvement of young people and the promise of a sporting legacy for future generations were two of the major reasons why the International Olympic Committee chose London to host the 2012 Games ahead of Paris.

''The things I talked about in Singapore weren't just warm words to get me through that Wednesday. It was a vision I genuinely believe in.

''I will not sit on the sidelines if I think we are not being true to the promise I made on behalf of British sport in Singapore.''

The 49-year-old does not underestimate the problems of getting youngsters involved in sport and producing champions.

''We can no longer take it for granted that young people will choose sport. Some may lack the facilities or the coaches and role models to teach them,'' Coe admitted.

''Others, in an age of 24-hour entertainment and instant fame, may simply lack the desire. We are determined that a London Games will address that challenge.

''London's vision is to reach young people, to connect them with the inspirational power of the Games so they're inspired to choose sport and it must involve everyone who has a role in sport.''

Coe hopes Britain will follow the example of Spain who went from one gold medal at the Seoul Games four years earlier to 13 when they hosted the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona.

''It was a product of sensitive, systematic and tangible improvements in coaching and the tough decisions that Spanish sport had to make,'' said Coe.

''It is not my job to tell you how to deliver British medal winners, nor is it the remit of the London Organising Committee.

''But it should come as no surprise, given my background, when I say this is probably our biggest single challenge over the next seven years.''

He also promised the 2012 Olympics will benefit future generations.

He added:''The London Olympic Institute set in the Olympic Park site, will be a hub site for elite sport, sports science and a culture centre, all shared with the community.

''It will be home to a 25,000-seat athletic stadium, not a 90,000-seat football stadium, whatever you may be reading.''