Magdalena Sroka's appointment comes following the resignation of former leader Jagna Marczulajtis-Walczak after allegations that her husband attempted to pay journalists in return for favourable stories on the bid.

"The Games are a great chance for the development of Kraków," said Sroka shortly after her appointment.

"They can accelerate the implementation of strategic investments in the city and in the entire region."

Sroka is a graduate of Jagiellonian University, where she graduated in Polish Philology, specialising in theatre studies.

Between 2008 and 2010 she was the director of the Krakó Festival Office, organising a number of events and coordinating the programme promote the city's culture.

Sroka claimed in her new role improving communication with the public is one of her chief tasks.

The meeting also saw six of the eight Board members replaced, with the new board, consisting of officials from Kraków and neighbouring cities, immediately holding its first meeting.

Kraków's bid has been plagued with incidents over the past month and the city will hope that this new appointment will help steady the ship ©Getty Images












Kraków is one of five cities bidding to hosting the 2022 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games along with Almaty, Beijing, Lviv and Oslo.

The city is set to hold a referendum on May 25 giving residents the opportunity to declare their support, or disapproval on the continuation of the bid.

Under Kraków's bid plans, Alpine ski events would be held across the border in Jasna, Slovakia.

If it wins the race to host the Games, it will become the first Winter Olympics to host events in two different countries.

Kraków will hope that the announcement of Sroka's appointment will help steady the boat following a particularly rough couple of weeks for the bid.

Prior to allegations over Marczulajtis-Walczak's husband, the bid's press and public relations manager, Paulina Guzik, also stepped down after barely two months in her post.

The International Olympic Committee Executive Board is set to decide at its meeting on July 8 and 9 which cities will advance to the final stage, before the winning bid is due to be announced on July 31, 2015, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

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