David Azzopardi will be replacing Peter Tortell as Financial Director at the Malta Olympic Committee after the Malta Handball Association treasurer yesterday won a vote for the post which was also contested by Anthony Chircop.

The ballot, won by Azzopardi 38-28, was held during the MOC's Quadrennial General Meeting (2001-2004) at St Aloysius College, Birkirkara.

This will not be Azzopardi's first experience in the Management Board. Last year, he replaced Pippo Psaila as Director of Sport after the latter stepped down from his position after the Malta 2003 GSSE.

Tortell decided not to stand for the elections this year after 12 years at the Malta Olympic Committee. He is retiring from sports administration after a 30-year involvement which started with waterpolo club Sliema way back in the 1970s.

Long-serving duo, president Lino Farrugia Sacco and secretary Joe Cassar, along with vice-president Julian Pace Bonello, retained their posts as they were uncontested. Psaila is back as Director of Sport.

There were three women among the eight other members voted in office yesterday by federation delegates and officials.

Lucienne Attard (49 votes), Laurie Pace (42 votes) and Marie Therese Zammit (42 votes) were elected along with Kirill Micallef Stafrace (50 votes), Chircop (44 votes), Envic Galea (44 votes), Antonio Mizzi (43 votes) and Vincent Scicluna (37 votes).

Michael Soler and Louis Borg failed to retain their status at the MOC.

Tony Cilia Pisani and Carlo Farrugia were the other two candidates who contested the election for members in the Executive Board.

The new committee members, to serve until 2008, will be introduced to the media today in a press conference at the headquarters in Tal-Qroqq.