Waugh secures Beijing 2008 role

Waugh only lost nine out of 57 Tests as Australian skipper

Former Australia cricket skipper Steve Waugh has accepted a role helping his country's athletes at the Beijing Olympics in 2008.

Waugh, former Wallabies rugby union captain John Eales and swimming gold medallist Susie O'Neill will be athlete liaison officers in China next year.

"Steve is a champion athlete and an inspirational leader," said Australian Olympic Committee boss John Coates.

"John, Susie and Steve have a mountain of experience at the elite level."

Waugh retired in 2004 after playing 168 Tests in which he made 10,927 runs.

The 41-year-old captained his side in 57 Tests and 106 one-day internationals.

Eales won the World Cup with Australia in 1991 and 1999 and also worked at the 2004 Games in Athens.

O'Neill won the 200m butterfly at the 1996 Atlanta Games and was unbeaten in the event until the Sydney Olympics in 2000, where she took silver.

She did win the 200m freestyle gold in Sydney however.

"John Eales established an amazing rapport with the athletes in Athens," added Coates.

"He was in demand and I am sure Steve and Susie will have the same positive effect in Beijing. They will support and motivate our team.

"At this point we estimate our team will number 507 athletes, many of them first-time Olympians, who will no doubt be nervous and will benefit greatly from the encouragement."