VANCOUVER, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- Rusty Goepel was named the chairman of organizing committee of Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics on Wednesday, replacing Jack Poole who died of cancer last month.

    Goepel was nominated to the board by the province of British Columbia. He was also a member of the board and executive committee in the 2010 Bid Corporation.

    "I will endeavor in the remaining months before the Games to carry on with the same vision and attention to excellence Jack Poole set for us since the beginning of our journey towards 2010,"said Goepel in a release.

    In honor of Poole's leadership and the role he played in bringing the Olympics to Canada, the board designated him the founding chairman on Wednesday.