Dame Tessa, who played a key role in uniting the British Government behind London’s successful bid to host the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, was also an integral part in securing Britain’s capital the rights to stage the 2017 International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) World Championships and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Athletics World Championships.

Both events retain the legacy left from London 2012 as they will take place in the Olympic Stadium and it will be the first time the two World Championships will be held in the same city in the same year.

“It is a real honour to chair the London 2017 World Athletics Inspiration Programme,” 67-year-old Dame Tessa said.

“I am passionate about using the power of sport to change lives for the better and look forward to working with the team over the next two years.”

London was awarded the 2017 IAAF World Championships and IPC World Championships back in 2011 and 2012 respectively and UK Athletics chair Ed Warner hailed the appointment of Dame Tessa.

“We are delighted to have secured Tessa’s time and energy towards the World Championships, as chair of our London 2017 World Athletics Inspiration Programme,” he said.

“The summer of 2017 will clearly inspire people onwards to athletic endeavour in London, across the UK and worldwide.

“It is vital that our work in capitalising on this inspiration be led by someone of Tessa's standing and experience of the wide impact of great sporting events.”

Being awarded both events allows London to build on the legacy of the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, which were widely-regarded as one of the best in recent history, it is claimed.

The Olympic Stadium is set to play host to the world’s best Olympic and Paralympic athletes in 2017 and Dame Tessa is relishing the events coming to London.

“UK Athletics have already had great success in creating a strong legacy from London 2012,” Dame Tessa, who stood down as the MP for Dulwich and West Norwood at the end of the last Parliament and is expected to run for Mayor of London, added.

“The opportunity is now there to go even further and look at all the different ways to inspire people through hosting the World Athletics Championships in 2017.”

London beat the Qatari capital of Doha to the 2017 IAAF World Championships and the bid was led by Sebastian Coe, one of the two canidates vying for the IAAF Presidency as current President, Senegalese veteran Lamine Diack, will step down later this year.

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