Updated

Former 2010 Winter Olympics chief John Furlong will be running the Vancouver Whitecaps of MLS.

He was hired as executive chairman and replaces Paul Barber, who left the team at the end of February. The team announced the appointment Thursday.

Furlong oversaw the Vancouver Games and Paralympic Games. He also chaired Vancouver's Olympic bid group. He has been a member of the Canadian Olympic Committee.

Furlong co-wrote a report on the 2011 Stanley Cup riots in Vancouver that recommended ways to avoid such violence in the future.