Cayman swimming official to referee at Pan Am Games
Adam Roberts
(CNS): Cayman Islands Amateur Swimming Association (CIASA) referee Adam Roberts has been selected to officiate in the Toronto 2015 Pan American Games (14-18 July), which is a qualifying competition for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
Roberts’ appointment as referee is a personal and professional achievement, as well as an honour for Cayman swimming to have one of its officials recognised internationally at such a high level. To put his role in perspective, FINA (the world governing body for swimming) rules, which will be in effect at the competition, provide that the referee shall “have full control and authority over all officials”.
Roberts said he was honoured with the appointment. “I am thrilled and still a little in shock at this news. It is a huge honour and a massive tribute to Cayman’s officiating programme and our efforts at training over many years. I hope this will prove to be a fillip and encouragement to all our officials,” he said.
“I am hugely grateful to the Cayman Islands Government for giving me time off to go and to all the trainers over the years, especially Steven Goldman and Errol Clarke, who have always been so encouraging, and to my wife who not only organises Cayman training of officials but has always supported me 100%.”
Roberts previously officiated in swimming at the Pan American Games held in Guadalajara, Mexico, in 2011.
CIASA president Michael Lockwood also spoke highly of the appointment. “Over the years, Adam has contributed a significant number of hours to the development of professional and qualified swimming officials locally, regionally and internationally.
“This has proved pivotal to the development of our swimmers as they are able to compete, here at home, in fully officiated and sanctioned meets – gaining invaluable experience so that they know what to expect when they compete overseas. We thank him for his contributions to swimming and look forward to seeing him on deck in Toronto.”
A team of 12 qualified swimmers is currently representing the Cayman Islands at the Island Games in Jersey, where Cayman official Tom McCallum is on deck as a referee. Qualified swimmers will also be representing Cayman at the following international competitions: Pan American Games, FINA World Championships in Russia and the Youth Commonwealth Games in Samoa.
