So I am rather in awe when we bring together at the residence to mark the one-year countdown to London 2012 some truly great Olympians from Ukraine.

They include Valery Borzov, who I remember winning the 100m and 200m gold medals at the 1972 Olympics in Munich and Olga Kharlan, the current Olympic fencing champion from the 2008 Olympics in Beijing and 2008 Ukrainian sportswoman of the year.

It’s exciting to see that the UK is on track to deliver Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2012 which will inspire lasting change. That means putting athletes at the heart of planning; encouraging young people to choose sport; and transforming East London with the greenest games in history.

So stand back for the greatest show on earth… and let’s hope both Ukrainian and British athletes break plenty of records and win loads of medals in London in a year’s time. Some pictures of our Kyiv event are below; and you can see videos and other materials about London 2012 at the link above.

‘One year to go’ reception, Her Majesty’s Ambassador’s Residence, 27 July 2011

Ambassador Leigh Turner welcomes legendary Valery Borzov – member of IOC in Ukraine; NOC of Ukraine Vice-President; double Olympic Champion.

Ambassador Leigh Turner and Olga Kharlan – Ukraine’s fencing star, Olympic Champion (Fencing) at 2008 Beijing Olympics; heroine of BBC World Olympic Dreams.

Ambassador Leigh Turner and Ravil Safiullin, Head of State Service for Youth and Sports of Ukraine. Ambassador Tuner welcomes the guests.

Valeriy Borzov & Olga Kharlan

London 2012 in the spotlight of Ukrainian media.

Leigh Turner has been the British Ambassador to Ukraine since June 2008. You can read all his blog entries at blogs.fco.gov.uk/roller/turnerenglish (in English) or blogs.fco.gov.uk/roller/turner/ (Ukrainian)