One 80-year-old Olympic ambassador said he hopes that the Games will inspire young people to take up sport for the fun of it.

Grandfather-of-six Gerry Sheridan, 80, and wife Joan, 76, of Brunswick Gardens, Hainault, volunteered at Victoria Park, Hackney, during the Games.

Mr Sheridan was a spectator at the 1948 London Olympics and said it was an incredible experience to be involved last year.

He said: “I think it’s shown people that London is a great city worldwide and I’m hoping that the youth in this country will be inspired to take up sport, not to be a champion but just to enjoy themselves.”

Mrs Sheridan said that having the Olympics in London made it a year like no other and that the atmosphere around the city was still positive from having the Games.

“It was absolutely wonderful, we’ve not done any volunteering since but we’ve been doing lots of talks at different clubs. We don’t charge anything for doing it, we just hope they put it to good use.”