12 Kazakhstani referees to officiate at 2024 Paris Olympics
A total of 12 Kazakhstani referees have been granted the privilege of officiating at the primary events on the global stage in Paris, Kazinform News Agency cites Olympic.kz.
The following specialists were invited to act as judges at the Olympic Games: Alua Bekturova (rhythmic gymnastics), Olga Solovyeva (weightlifting), Aliya Karimova (artistic swimming), Yuliya Ignatchenko, Meruert Kaukeeva (tennis), Timur Amirbekov (artistic gymnastics), Evgeny Diakokin (fencing, sabre), Evgeny Mikheev (basketball), Yerik Zhumabekov, Igor Ligai (wrestling), Alisher Altayev, Ermek Suyenish (boxing).
The role of a referee at the Olympic Games demands a high level of expertise. The international federations implement a rigorous selection process, resulting in a pool of the most qualified referees.
Timur Amirbekov of Kazakhstan will be attending his fourth Olympic Games. He has previously been involved in three Olympic Games and 18 World Championships.
“This is my fourth Olympics. My first experience of the Olympic Games was in 2004, when the Games were held in Athens. I was unable to attend the Beijing Olympics as I was serving as the head coach of the team at the time. I was a referee at the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Unfortunately, I was not selected as an arbiter for the Tokyo Games. I had my own reasons for that decision. In addition, throughout my career I have served as a referee at 18 World Championships. The last occasion was in 2022 in Liverpool. Upon the conclusion of the World Cup, I was ranked among the top five referees. This allowed me to participate in the Olympic Games in Paris," Amirbekov stated.
He believes that the Kazakhstan gymnastics team has a strong potential for success and could win a medal.
“Both of our gymnasts are among the strongest in the world. They have extensive experience. Furthermore, they are demonstrating clear progress. It is my hope that our team will enjoy success,” the referee added.
Additionally, two wrestling experts, Yerik Zhumabekov and Igor Ligai, will be attending the Olympic Games.
Zhumabekov has already served as a referee at four world championships. The Summer Olympics in Paris will be his first-ever Olympic Games as a referee.
“I received the category of international judge in 2009. Subsequently, I successfully completed a series of examinations for third, second and first-degree referee,” he stated.
The United World Wrestling (UWW) reviewed the work of referees at various competitions. Zhumabekov noted that the selection process for the Olympic Games occurred in two stages: the 2023 Asian Wrestling Championships in Astana and the 2023 World Wrestling Championships in Belgrade. At the latter event, the judges were divided into three categories: green, yellow, and red. Yerik Zhumabekov and Igor Ligai were placed in the green category.
This year, the referees also participated in World License tournaments held in Bishkek and Istanbul. As a result, the UWW selected 50 individuals to participate in the Paris Olympics. For the first time, two Kazakhstani wrestling referees will be attending the Olympic Games.
“In preparation for the forthcoming competition, it is essential to constantly improve your skills. The UWW Referee Seminar was held in Athens last month. All fifty judges selected for Paris were in attendance. It was a valuable experience,” Zhumabekov said.
Internationally renowned rhythmic gymnastics judge Alua Bekturova will be responsible for evaluating the performances of athletes in both individual and group competitions.
Prior to this, she served as a judge at the 2018 Summer Youth Olympics in Buenos Aires. Additionally, she was invited to serve as a reserve judge at the Tokyo Olympics. Her experience also includes participation in numerous World Cups and other international events.
“The distinction between evaluating the Olympic Games and other sporting events lies in the fact that judges for the Olympics are selected from across the globe. The selection process is based on a set of rigorous criteria. Primarily, they take into account the experience of judges in question. In the preceding two years, I have officiated at numerous events, including the World Championships and World Cup stages.
Secondly, consideration is given to the category of a judge. In the discipline of rhythmic gymnastics, there are four categories of judges. In order to be eligible for judging at the Olympic Games, one must possess either the first or second category qualification.
Thirdly, during the Olympic season, judges should refrain from committing any violations or making any mistakes in their assessments,” Bekturova highlighted.
During the current Olympic cycle, Alua Bekturova has participated in two World Championships and all stages of the World Cup. One of the most significant tournaments is the qualifying at the 2023 FIG Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships in Valencia. The judge is currently engaged in preparations for their role at the Olympic Games.
Bekturova stated that she dedicates 2-3 hours daily to preparation for judging. She reviews the videos of gymnasts’ performances at home and peruses supplementary materials dedicated to judging. The International Gymnastics Federation furnishes the judges with videos of gymnasts' performances for evaluation.
