Lausanne (pps) Dwight Bell, former President of the US Luge Assocation (USLA), was appointed by the International Olympic Committee, IOC, to the Evaluation Commission for the 2018 Olympic Winter Games. On the 11-member panel Bell represents the Association of International Olympic Winter Sports Federations, AIOWF.

Sweden’s Gunilla Lindberg, member of the IOC Executive Office between 2000 and 2004 as well as IOC Vice President from 2004 to 2008, was appointed to lead the Evaluation Commission by IOC President Jacques Rogge.

Between February 8 and March 5, 2011, the Evaluation Commission will handle the appraisals of Munich (Germany), Annecy (France) and Pyeong-Chang (South Korea), which are bidding for the 2018 Games. The decision as to the eventual host city of the 2018 Olympic Winter Games will be announced in Durban, South Africa, on July 6, 2011.