The seven-time Paralympic champion was Deputy Chef de Mission at Rio 2016. 

"I am very happy and proud that I am asked to perform this task for the Dutch team,", Vergeer said. 

"It was an amazing adventure to be part of the staff as Deputy Chef de Mission during the Games in Rio, which were very successful for our team. 

"I definitely wanted more of that.

"As a former elite athlete, I know how important it is that everything around you is well taken care of. I want to make sure that the whole operation runs smoothly, so that the athletes can fully focus on their sports and their performance."

Vergeer was undefeated for 10 years in wheelchair tennis - a 470-match winning streak from January 2003 until her retirement - and finished her career with 42 Grand Slam titles, 22 year-end Championships and seven Paralympic titles, made up of four singles and three doubles titles.

The Netherlands finished 14th overall in the medals table at Sochi 2014.

They won one gold - only their second in the history of the Winter Parlaympic Games - thanks to Bibian Mentel-Spee in the women's snowboard cross.

"We are very pleased with the appointment of Esther," Maurits Hendriks, technical director of the Dutch Olympic Committee*Dutch Sports Federation, said. 

"It is important that we can connect figureheads like Esther to our teams. 

"After Pyeongchang, we will evaluate with Esther, but we have the intention to go to Tokyo 2020 together as well."