Vidmar, a two-time Olympic gymnastics gold medallist, resigned from the position last month only a week after being appointed following a series of damaging allegations over his opposition to same-sex marriage.

Edwards, 46-year-old from Cairo in Georgia, was selected by the United States Olympic Committee's Board of Directors and will be in charge of Team USA and function as the liaison officer between London 2012, the International Olympic Committee and other National Olympic Committees at the Games.

"As a five-time Olympian, Teresa understands the needs of our athletes at the highest level of competition," said USOC chairman Larry Probst.

"She's an American hero, and I'm grateful she has agreed to serve in this important role."

A graduate of the University of Georgia, Edwards won her first Olympic gold medal at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

She won another gold in Seoul in 1988, bronze in Barcelona in 1992, and gold again in Atlanta in 1996 and Sydney in 2000.

"I'm honoured to be appointed US de Mission for the 2012 Olympic Games," said Edwards, who worked as an analyst for NBC Sports coverage of basketball at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

"I've been lucky enough to be associated with the Olympic Movement for more than 30 years.

"To be able to give back in this fashion is incredibly humbling, and I'm excited to share whatever wisdom I have with the amazing men and women that will make up Team USA at the London Games."

Edwards was inducted into the US Olympic Hall of Fame in 2009, the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 2010 and this August will be inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame.

She lives in Atlanta and currently an assistant coach with the WNBA's Tulsa Shock.

Vidmar's decision to step down followed reports in the Chicago Tribune that he participated in two anti-gay marriage demonstrations and donated $2,000 (£1,222) for the successful 2008 Proposition 8ballot initiative in California defining marriage as between a man and a woman.

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