The Cultural Commission of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) was created in 1969 with Polish IOC Member Włodzimierz Reczek serving as the first chair of the commission. Based on recommendations of the IOC 2000 Commission and approved at the 110th IOC Session in December 1999, the Cultural Commission and the Education/International Olympic Academy Commissions were merged into a single Culture and Olympic Education Commission. It was later re-named the Culture and Olympic Heritage Commissions, although there is now a separate Olympic Education Commission. In 2000, the IOC also created a new Department of Culture and Education. See also Culture and Olympic Heritage Commissions and Olympic Education Commission.