IOC appoints Gunilla Lindberg to head Pyeongchang commission

Aug 5, 2011, 12:05 GMT

Lausanne, Switzerland - The IOC announced on Friday that Swede Gunilla Lindberg has been appointed as chair of the Coordination Commission for the 2018 Winter Games in the South Korean city of Pyeongchang.

The IOC last month awarded the right to host the Olympics to Pyeongchang at the 123rd IOC Session in the South African coastal town of Durban.

The IOC said in a statement that IOC President Jacques Rogge appointed Lindberg to lead a strong, multinational team who will be responsible for assisting and guiding the Pyeongchang organizing committee during the period leading up to the Olympic Winter Games, as well as monitoring the progress of preparations.

Lindberg, a former figure skater who has been an IOC member since 1996, already led the 2018 Evaluation Commission.

'Ms Lindberg has all the qualities and charisma to lead the team who will be responsible for assisting Pyeongchang in the next seven years', Rogge said.

'She knows exactly what it takes to stage successful Olympic Winter Games and through the work that she carried out while leading the 2018 Evaluation Commission.

'She is already well acquainted with Pyeongchang's Olympic project and immediate priorities. She will be a strong ally to the organizing committee and will ensure that we see great Games in 2018', the president said.

The Swede said that she was delighted and honoured at the appointment. 'I am confident that, with the assistance of my very experienced colleagues, we will help Pyeongchang deliver outstanding Winter Games in 2018.'

The other members of the commission include IOC members with wide-ranging Olympic Games experience gained either from work on former IOC Evaluation or Coordination Commissions or with previous Games organizing committees.

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