Sporting legends were thick on the ground, from Roger Bannister, the first man to break four minutes for the mile, Olympic gold medallist Chris Boardman, former world champion Steve Cram, Jonathan Davies and Matthew Pinsent.

Sports administrators were well represented. From UK Sport came chief executive Richard Callicott, who was joined by Sport England's Patrick Carter, the British Olympic Association's Simon Clegg, the Football Association's David Davies, the RFU's Francis Baron, and UK Athletics' David Moorcroft

Trevor Brooking, former chairman of Sport England was in attendance, as will Arsenal vice-chairman David Dein, and BBC director-general Greg Dyke.

From the world of politics came Sports Minister Richard Caborn and a former occupant of that position, Tony Banks MP.

Presenting the debates was BBC Sport's Sue Barker, Steve Rider and John Inverdale.