Duel in the Pool shows positive signs for London 2012

By Ryan Bangs, Sportsbeat, in Manchester

IF LONDON 2012 officials were shown anything from the first night at the British Gas Duel in the Pool it was that Britain doesn't just host the X-factor - it has it.

GLITZ AND GLAMOUR: A packed house at the Manchester Aquatics Centre get a glimpse of what London 2012 will be like (Getty Images)

With exactly 951 days to go until the Olympic torch is lit at a glittering opening ceremony in London - UK Sport's target of staging a world class event every two weeks is in full flow.

And with more Olympic and world swimming medallists than you can shake a stick at in Manchester this weekend - the Duel in the Pool certainly falls into that category.

Flashing lights and loud music echoed around the pool before the swimmers lined up on the blocks in front of a sell-out 2,000 crowd in full voice.

And while the Manchester Aquatics Centre - purposefully built for the 2002 Commonwealth Games - isn't London, the atmosphere created, especially for the Brits, smelt of 2012.

The past four years have been a mixture of highs and lows for LOCOG chair Lord Sebastian Coe - with issues like the ones over the rhythmic gymnastics and badminton venues continuing to cause him trouble.

But he should sleep easy between now and 2012, safe in the knowledge that on the basis of the Duel in the Pool - Britain is capable of hosting the greatest show on earth.

Despite Michael Phelps' presence polyurethane was still the word on everyone's lips with five world records falling - none set individually by the 14-time Olympic champion.

In the British ranks - Fran Halsall shone in the 100m freestyle and butterfly coming home first twice while teenager Lizzie Simmonds fell narrowly shy of a new world mark in the 200m backstroke.