Very shortly, the eyes of the world will be on the capital as the celebrations get underway for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympics Games. With thousands of athletes gearing up to compete, the pressure is really on to bring the medals home.

For me, there's a different type of pressure looming in the air, as in my role as chief starter I'm preparing to start the world's finest international sports stars.

Do I feel the pressure? Not at all.

The fact that I get to be part of the world's biggest sporting event in my home country is just incredible.

In my officiating career, I have started more than 25,000 races – everything from local school competitions through to the World Athletics Championships in Daegu last year where I had the unpleasant task of disqualifying the fastest man in history, Mr Usain Bolt.

People expect me to say that disqualifying Usain was the hardest decision I've had to make, but that was an easy decision as it was so clear cut.

Usain Bolt (fourth left) is about to be disqualified for a false start

Having to eliminate Tyrone Edgar in the World Championships semi-final in Berlin in 2009 was probably the hardest decision, but not because he is a Briton.

The margin was so fine (.006sec), it was a very, very close call and I had to be absolutely certain I was correct and the technology was accurate. To his credit he took the decision with great dignity even though he must have been gutted.

The best moment I've had since being an official just has to be starting the incredible World Championship men's 100 metres final in Berlin in 2009. Not only was it a fantastic and legendary venue with a huge crowd it was probably one of the greatest individual performances ever by an athlete.

Usain Bolt's 9.58 has become an iconic mark and I played a very small part in that historic event; it was a very special moment.

There are so many aspects and rewards to being an official in athletics. At a basic level it involves me in a sport I love and I contribute to helping athletes achieve their personal goals.

I have made so many great, lifelong friendships and on the international level I have travelled the world, been part of mega-events and rubbed shoulders with absolute legends. Overall I am a happy bloke.

Alan Bell (third right) is heavily involved with the Youth Sport Trust

For more than a decade, I've worked for the Youth Sport Trust, working across a range of projects, including those to drive up the number of young officials in sport.

The Youth Sport Trust is currently working in partnership with many national governing bodies of sports, including badminton, basketball, football, hockey, netball, rugby union, table tennis, volleyball and wheelchair basketball to encourage more young people to become officials. Through developing increased training opportunities, the trust is aiming to get 5,000 more young people involved in officiating in sport this year.

I have had over 40 years of involvement in my sport and 30 of those have been as an official. So many young people are now choosing to engage in sport as performers and volunteers providing valuable services in their chosen sport. They bring energy, enthusiasm and a willingness to learn and improve. They are the "me" of tomorrow and they help to keep me young(ish).

Let the Games begin.

Britain's Alan Bell will be chief starter at the London 2012 Olympics. He works for the Youth Sport Trust, the independent charity devoted to changing young people's lives through sport.