Former Chinese female ping pong top gun Deng Yaping has been designated the deputy director in charge of the management of the Olympic Village for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Beijing Times reports Deng will take office on Tuesday and the village department will start operations soon.

An official with the Games organizer, BOCOG, said the department was established to deal with the rising workload relating to village construction and preparation for the athletes' reception of the Olympiad.

He said Deng Yaping, acclaimed as the greatest female player in table tennis history, was named because her abundant experience in attending competitions abroad can help provide better services for athletes. Her advantage in English is another factor in the nomination decision, the official added.

Deng, studying at Cambridge University for a doctorate in economics, is both a member of the IOC Sport and Environment Commission and the IOC Athletes Commission. She also serves the Chinese Olympic Committee and worked on ties between BOCOG and domestic partners.

(CRIENGLISH.com January 15, 2007)