Pippo Psaila has resumed his duties again within the Malta Olympic Committee as its Director of Sport.

He had relinquished the post temporarily as he had contested the General Elections last March.

But with the Elections over, the Maltese Olympic Committee has now approved Psaila’s return to his earlier post.

It was not done earlier because of the Malta-Sicily Mediterranean Friendship Tournament for which all preparations were in the hands of Chef de Mission Marie Therese Zammit.

Pippo Psaila’s first commitment on his return will be the Olympic Games in Beijing, China, next August.

Contacted yesterday, he said that from what he had heard and read, he thought everything was being done reasonably well and “the MOC and its athletes were certainly moving in the right direction.”

He added that it was still early to make considerations, but made it clear there might not be more than six athletes who will be representing Malta in Beijing.

Asked whether there were any flight problems, Psaila said: “So far as we are concerned, no flight problems exist. We will be leaving in good time and we will also be taking part in the Opening Ceremony. There will be no government interference as we are a completely autonomous body.”

Psaila also said that other duties in the next few months will include the start of preparations for next year’s Cyprus Games for European Small Nations as well as the Mediterranean Games.

And he also revealed that the Maltese Olympic Committee will be launching a certification scheme through which coaches and officials forming part of Team Malta will adjourn themselves according to the circumstances so as to become eligible for the Team.

He said: “They will have to attend courses relating to Games. We want a high level of professionalism in this sector and we believe this will be the only way for such officials to become eligible to be nominated to join the Team.”