The final presentations in Singapore included a group of schoolchildren from the east end of London, where the development for the games is due to begin shortly.

The successful implementation of CRB checks across football, including the training programmes that have been developed with the County FAs for referees, proved a success, too, for the London Olympics.

“We were proud to be able to do our bit to back the bid,” said The FA CRB Unit manager Elizabeth Hubbard.

“It meant a fantastic trip down to the headquarters in Canary Wharf for me and I am delighted that we’ve helped – even in a small way – to bring the Olympic Games and the Paralympic Games back to London in 2012.

“We had to keep everything quiet until today because the organisers wanted the children’s appearance to be a surprise.”