Former Chinese football association deputy chief Nan Yong filled the vacancy left by Xie Yalong as top positions in several main associations underwent changes more than four months after the Beijing Olympic Games.

The most controversial association finally got to greet its new head who had been working as the deputy for the past 10 years.

In the past four years, Chinese soccer recorded almost the worst results in history as the world rankings of the men's team dropped to the rock bottom of 104.

Gao Jian retired as head of the Gymnastics association which celebrated the best ever Olympic result when the Chinese team grabbed nine golds, one silver and four bronzes in August in Beijing.

Former athletics association chief Luo Chaoyi will take the helm of Chinese gymnastics.

Xin Lancheng returned to his old post in the basketball association after working fiver years with the Beijing Olympics organizing committee as deputy director of the sports department.

Xin had been the first director of the association before Li Yuanwei, retired at age 60, took over.

Gao Xiaojun will lead the Chinese martial arts association while former chief Wang Xiaolin retired.

(Xinhua News Agency January 21, 2009)