The 2000 Olympic heptathlon champion, who was part of the delegation that travelled to Singapore in 2005 for the vote alongside former England captain David Beckham, has claimed that guaranteeing a legacy for athletics after the Games was one of the main planks of the bid.

"The idea that we all campaigned so hard to win the Olympics with the legacy programme such a key part of the bid and then knock down the centerpiece of the event is ludicrous," said Lewis.

"The Olympic Stadium should be a historic monument to the 2012 Olympics and remain a focus of the local community for all kinds of activities, not just sport."

Lewis was part of a London 2012 team in Singapore that included Sir Keith Mills and Mike Lee, the then chief executive and communications director, who are now both campaigning for Tottenham to be given the Stadium despite having been among the main architects that a successful bid would guarantee a long-term legacy for athletics.

Tottenham plan to scrap the athletics track if they are awarded the Stadium and instead fund the redevelopment of Crystal Palace.

Lewis has backed the rival bid from West Ham United to be given the Stadium when the Olympic Park Legacy Company (OPLC) meet to decide on its future at a meeting later this month.

"If the only way to properly protect that legacy and the massive investment made by taxpayers is to allow West Ham to make it their new stadium then that has to be the only common sense answer," she said.

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