The commission, based in Lausanne, Switzerland, is composed of members of the IOC, international sport federations, national Olympic committees, and representatives from the Athletes' Commission, the Paralympic Committee, former Games organizing committees, and various specialists.

CHAIRMAN
• Gerhard Heiberg
Norway

MEMBERS
• Rémy Charmetant
France
• Oskar Fischer
Germany
• Chiharu Igaya
Japan
• Rick Ludwig
U.S.A.
• José Luis Marco
Argentina
• Olav Myrholt
Norway
• le Prince d' Orange
Netherlands
• Roy Sinclair
U.K.
• Tsunekazu Takeda
Japan
• Peter Tallberg
Finland
• Grant Thomas
U.S.A.
• Rita Van Driel
Netherlands
• Pernilla Wiberg
Sweden

Those closest to Furlong, the president of Vancouver's bid team, have described him as a passionate jock: a man who loves athletics and celebrating athletes.

"The (Olympics) are a tremendous opportunity for Canada," said Furlong "We have the chance to show the world that we can stage a sustainable Olympic Winter Games and Paralympic Games."

Before coming to Canada nearly 30 years ago from his native Ireland, Furlong was an elite two-sport athlete, playing for the both the Irish Olympic basketball and handball teams.

Furlong moved to British Columbia in 1974, where his participation in sport continued.

Despite coming to the sport late in life, Furlong excels at squash. He took it up as a 29-year-old and seven years later he was Canada's over-35 champion.

Furlong also has a wealth of experience when it comes to organizing sporting events.

He founded the Northern B.C. Winter Games Society and was a B.C. Mission Staff member for seven Canada Games. Later, he headed up the province's amateur sports umbrella group, Sport B.C.

He's also a member of the Canadian Olympic Committee.

Jack Poole
Chairman, Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer, Vancouver 2010 Bid Corporation

Putting together Vancouver's bid to host the 2010 Winter Games is something that comes naturally to Jack Poole.

The head of the Vancouver 2010 Bid Corporation has always been a builder at heart. After earning a degree in civil engineering at the University of Saskatchewan, Poole began selling instant housing in the resource towns popping up in northern British Columbia.

Poole grew that idea in to the multi-million dollar company Daon Development. During the 1970s, Poole's company expanded into building offices and shopping centres.

But like many businesses, Daon Development didn't survive the difficult early 1980s. Poole resurrected his land-development career in the 1990s, and currently runs Concert Properties.

The 69-year-old is also an avid sportsman. More than a decade ago, he helped found the Molson Vancouver Indy. Poole is also an accomplished curler.

Gerhard Heiberg
Chairman of the IOC's Evaluation Commission

Gerhard Heiberg was Chairman and chief organizer of the Lillehammer Winter Olympics in 1994, and despite his initial skepticism of the IOC's integrity, joined the organization soon after the Winter Games ended.

Heiberg has degrees in economics and business administration, and has held a variety of senior positions in firms headquartered in Norway, France and Austria.

Born in Oslo, Norway in 1939, Heiberg assumed the role of IOC marketing chief in late 2001 from Canada's Dick Pound, who resigned the post after losing the IOC presidential election.

Controversy isn't foreign to him.

Heiberg caused a stir in the wake of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks by publicly questioning whether the United States could safely host the 2002 Winter Games, remarks that brought a next-day apology.

And he made headlines in March, during a tour of the Vancouver site, when he said Whistler was "too far" from Vancouver. A day later he told a crowd of bid supporters "If you are awarded the Games on July 2 we are quite sure you are going to show the world perhaps the best Winter Olympics ever."

Heiberg, a father of three, is an avid athlete with interests in athletics, soccer, tennis, swimming, and skiing.

Jacques Rogge
President of International Olympic Committee

Jacques Rogge’s resume is as diverse as they come. The reigning IOC president’s CV includes stints as an orthopaedic surgeon, a yachtsman and a sports medicine lecturer.

The 61-year-old Belgian added the IOC’s top job to this list after taking over from the retiring Juan Antonio Samaranch in July 2001.

Many felt Rogge was the right person to help the Olympic movement get back on track in the wake of the Salt Lake City bribery scandal. He escaped unscathed in a controversy that saw 10 IOC members resign.

The mild-mannered former surgeon has been involved in the Olympic movement for decades, first as an athlete and later as a key behind-the-scenes organizer.

Rogge, a nautical buff, had his first encounter with the Olympics as a competitor. He participated in yachting at three Olympiads (1968 Mexico City, 1972 Munich and 1976 Montreal). Although he didn’t step onto an Olympic podium, he did capture one world championship on the water.

Rogge was also skilled on the rugby pitch, playing for the Belgian national team.
He later moved to the administrative side of sport, serving as chef de mission at two Winter and three Summer Olympiads. Rogge then became president of the European Olympic Committee in 1989 and a full-fledged IOC member in 1991.

Many Olympic observers feel Rogge’s crowning achievement was his planning of the 2000 Sydney Games as the IOC's chief co-ordinator.

The 2000 Games were well received around the world, with the departing Samaranch declaring them the best ever. Many Olympic pundits feel the success of the Sydney Games helped secure the IOC presidency for Rogge.

Less than a year later, he was the overwhelmingly popular choice to succeed Samaranch, winning a second ballot in a landslide.

Rogge’s strengths are said to be his diplomacy, problem-solving skills and fluency in five languages.