Cuthbert, winner of a Commonwealth Games gold medal in the women's 10 metre highboard at Edmonton in 1978, replaces Bermuda's Philip Guishard.

He has stood down due to illness.

Cuthbert was chosen by the Commonwealth Games Associations of the Americas region - Bahamas, Belize, Bermuda, Canada, Falkland Islands, Guyana and St Helena - ahead of Bermuda's Douglas Stanley.

Cuthbert, who also competed at the 1974 Commonwealth Games in Christchurch, has been a vice-president of Commonwealth Games Canada (CCG) since 2006. 

She is currently in charge of CGC’s External Relations Committee, has previously chaired CGC’s High Performance Sport Committee and also sits on the Canadian Olympic Committee’s Ethics Committee.

Cuthbert also runs her own company, Breakthrough Performance, designed to help clients become more successful. 

"I’m honoured to be elected to this important position and look forward to working closely with my new colleagues," said Cuthbert.

"The Commonwealth Games have played a huge part in my own sporting career. 

"I feel passionately that it’s an inspiring and important time to be involved in Commonwealth sport. 

"I can’t wait to play my part to deliver on the sporting ambitions of Transformation 2022."

The Sports Committee acts as an advisory body to the CGF Executive Board on strategic and technical matters related to sport and partnerships with International Federations involved in the Commonwealth Games. 

The next meeting of the CGF Sports Committee, chaired by CGF vice-president Bruce Robertson, is due to take place in Edmonton on October 3, just prior to the General Assembly.

"Philip is a long-serving, loyal and dedicated member of the Commonwealth sporting fraternity and I want to thank him sincerely for his professionalism, companionship and warm personality during his time on the Sports Committee," said CGF President Louise Martin. 

"The Sports Committee is playing a pivotal and extensive role in preparations for the upcoming competitions in the Bahamas and on the Gold Coast [2018], so I am delighted to welcome Linda to the Sports Committee at this exciting time to ensure that the Commonwealth Games and Commonwealth Youth Games continue to develop as athlete-centred, sport-focused celebrations of sport and the Commonwealth."