Heat is on for Radcliffe

"We will do everything we can because we don't know whether the athletes will be left like a load of lemons in the sun."

The world record holder's attention to detail is a crucial part of her success.

The 30-year-old will even wear a new "Precool vest", which is fitted with ice packs to keep her body temperature down, before changing into her Great Britain vest at the last minute before the race starts.

Radcliffe has already proved she can handle pressure in the heat by winning a world half-marathon title in the high temperatures of a Portuguese summer.

But the British team are taking no chances. They have even arranged for their own seperate tables at three of the 15 watering stops along the route, which contains some gruelling climbs before finishing in the Panathinaiko Stadium where the first modern Games were staged in 1896.

This is by far the biggest moment of Radcliffe's career. At least 8 million people are expected to watch the race live on TV in Britain alone.

A first Olympic title would transform the British athlete into a much bigger sports star worldwide and she could double her earnings from endorsements.

Victory would also give Radcliffe an even bigger profile in Olympic circles where she has the foreign language skills, eloquence and diplomacy to make a successful career as an International

Olympic Committee administrator after she retires from running.

The International Olympic Committee is desperately looking for women to take on high-profile roles.

Britain's legendary marathon runner Ron Hill said today that Radcliffe's professionalism would help her overcome the heat problems in the historic race, especially after preparing in the scorching heat of Seville.

He said: "I think Paula is a dead cert. She is a real professional and will have prepared to run in this type of weather. Don't forget, conditions will be the same for everyone and the Kenyans and Ethiopians don't necessarily train in that heat."