She is joined in a new-look Labour Culture, Media and Sport  team that will be led by Ivan Lewis and also contain Ian Austin and Gloria De Piero.

Jowell, the MP for Dulwich and West Norwood, will now shadow Hugh Robertson, who had undertaken a similar role when the Conservatives were the opposition party.

Jowell, 63, played an important part in London's bid and many believe that if it had not been for her persistence then it would have been still-born as it faced such opposition from several senior Cabinet members at the time, particularly then Chancellor Gordon Brown.

Her role was praised by former Prime Minister Tony Blair in his autobiography, A Journey, published last month.

He revealed that it was her that changed his mind in 2003 and led to him deciding to sanction a bid after he initially feared losing to Paris.

"She was telling me it was an enormous opportunity," Blair wrote.

"Think of the impact on our young people, on fitness, on sport, on the country's self-belief.

"I would say, 'Yes, but suppose we get beaten, and what's worse, we get beaten by the French and I end up humiliated?'

"One day when I had finished saying this to her in graphic terms, sitting in the Down Downing Street garden...she looked at me reproachfully and said, 'I really didn't think that was your attitude to leadership.

"'I thought you were prepared to take a risk.

"'And it is a big risk.

"'Of course we may not win but at least you will have had the courage to try.'

"When Tessa says this, you feel a complete wimp and rather ashamed.

"You know she is manipulating you, but you also know it's a successful manipulations.

"'Oh ok, we'll go for it.'"

Lewis, 43, who will shadow Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt, is the MP for Bury South and served as Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office before Labour lost the General Election in May.

The lifelong Manchester City supporter replaces Ben Bradshaw, the Culture Secretary under the last Labour administration, but who was not voted onto the Shadow Cabinet.

He will be supported by Austin and De Piero.

Austin, 45, is the MP for Dudley is a keen cycling and football fan while De Piero is a former television presenter.

The 37-year-old De Piero (pictured) replaced former Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon as the Labour MP for Ashfield in the last General Election.

She was the political correspondent and a relief newsreader for GMTV for seven years and also worked on BBC Radio 4's Westminster Hour.

In 2008 she was voted the 85th sexiest woman in the world in the FHM readers' poll.

Gerry Sutcliffe, the former Sports Minister, meanwhile, has been given a new role.

He will take on the Shadow counter terrorism and security role under Shadow Home Secretary Ed Balls.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]