Sebastian Coe will miss London’s presentation to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in Beijing today as he holds a vigil by his father’s hospital bed.

The chairman of the London Olympic Organising Committee (Locog) was due to give IOC members an update on 2012 preparations but has stayed back in the UK because his father, Peter, is gravely ill.

It is hoped Coe will be in the Olympic stadium in Beijing in time for the opening ceremony on Friday night but he is said by his staff to be "taking it one day at a time".

The presentation will be given by Paul Deighton, the Locog chief executive, who is well practised in the exercise and is highly regarded by IOC members.

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The IOC will understand the reason for Coe's absence, given the close relationship he has with his father who was also his coach.

An engineer by trade, Peter Coe had no prior experience of middle-distance running before his son showed promise in the sport. But he applied his logical brain to biomechanics to perfect a training regime that was initially criticised for being too physically punishing but has since been acclaimed for being ahead of its time.

Coe, who is in his late 80s, had a number of mottos, the most famous being that “slow running produces slow runners” and that “nothing good in track and field happens quickly”.

Coe Jr won four Olympic medals and broke 12 world records under his the guidance of his father, who became one of England’s most influential athletics coaches.