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)
?