Reedie to lead 2020 bid inspections

LAUSANNE, Switzerland — British IOC vice president Craig Reedie will head the panel assessing the three bids for the 2020 Olympics.

The International Olympic Committee appointed Reedie on Thursday to chair the evaluation commission studying the bids from Madrid, Tokyo and Istanbul.

The three candidate cities have until Jan. 7, 2013, to submit their formal bid files to the IOC. Reedie's commission will then visit Tokyo from March 4-7, Madrid from March 18-21 and Istanbul from March 24-27.

Reedie, who helped London secure the 2012 Olympics and served on the board of the local organizing committee, was elevated to an IOC vice president in July on the eve of the games.

IOC President Jacques Rogge said Reedie "knows as well as anybody what it takes to host a sustainable, well-organized and ultimately successful Olympic Games."

The panel will prepare a detailed report ahead of an IOC meeting with the bid cities in early July 2013. The full IOC will vote on the host city on Sept. 7 at its session in Buenos Aires.

Other members appointed to the panel include International Cycling Union President Pat McQuaid and IOC members Guy Drut of France, Frank Fredericks of Namibia and Nat Indrapana of Thailand.

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