In The Netherlands the Dutch Olympic Committee (NOC*NSF) held the "Week of the Referee" on 5 to 13 October 2019.
The project was launched in 2009 and is part of the action plan "To a Safer Sport Environment" and it offers sporting clubs the opportunity to celebrate the role of referee, judge and official and thank them for their commitment.
The Dutch equestrian federation (KNHS) gives extra attention to officials in horse sport on their website, as the welfare of the horse has become a main point of attention in equestrian competition sport.
Marion Schreuder, head teacher of the KNHS education department, agrees: "at competitions officials fulfil a very important role to guarantee the welfare of the horse. Not only in the ring, but also in the warm up they keep an eye on the welfare of the horse. Judges, officials and stewards ensure that the horse is ridden and treated correctly at shows. Of course an important part of the task is with the competitors and we ask them to adress each other in case of incorrect behaviour or to report it with one of the officials at the show."
Schreuder says she has much respect for the oficials who day in day out and in any type of weather carry out their task at shows.
"Officials have an important but also a difficult task," said Schreuder. "They have to be able to communicate well with the riders, who are often tense at shows. Furthermore they have an educational task when it comes to youth. They have to explain the rules and follow them stricly so that the children don't lose their joy in sport. We pay extra attention to that in our training of officials."
More info about being a Dutch official can be found here.
Photo © Digishots
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