British Olympic Association Chairman Sir Hugh Robertson pays tribute to Dame Tessa Jowell after she sadly passed away yesterday.
"Baroness Jowell was one of the key figures in the delivery of London 2012 and was a great friend to British Olympic sport. She played the pivotal role in gathering, and maintaining government support for a bid and subsequently putting in place the structures necessary to deliver The Games.
"When the governments changed in 2010, she stayed on as a member of the Olympic Board, Deputy Mayor of the village and she served on an IOC Commission looking at future bidding conditions. It is no exaggeration to say that the sporting summer of 2012 would not have happened without her. She was also a very special person.
"The thoughts of the whole British Olympic family are with her family at this difficult time."
Rt Hon Sir Hugh Robertson KCMG DL