BY LEE MAGINNIS
A massive congratulations to Northern Ireland woman Joy Alexander who has been announced as the National Technical Delegate for the forthcoming World Indoor Championships in Glasgow in March.
It is an incredible achievement for Joy who has chosen this way to give back to the sport of athletics. She once competed as a hurdler and represented her country.
Joy kindly took the time to speak to us about her role, her passion for officiating and the enjoyment and friendships it brings. There can be great camaraderie between officials who are working together and often living together for the duration of an event.
Back in 2018, Joy was announced as the winner of the UKA Officials Official Award at the 16th annual UKA Officials Conference, which celebrated the ‘Unsung Heroes of Athletics’.
Joy would encourage anyone interested to look into the opportunities available in officiating as often there can be a real need for new blood. She herself, despite being a track athlete, ended up specialising in field events as an official.
Over to Joy as she takes us deeper into her officiating journey and current role.
NATIONAL TECHNICAL DELEGATE ROLE (NTD)
4 key roles
- NTD is an Event Management role appointed by UKA and endorsed by World Athletics
- Key function is to work with UKA / World Athletics to ensure successful delivery of the Championships and conformity with the Technical rules of World Athletics
- Oversee overall organisation from appointment to role to completion of competition reports
- Dealing with issues as they arise during the competition.
My officiating journey
- Back in 1996, I had moved jobs and was working in Cookstown where I met Roy ‘Stevie’ Stevenson who persuaded me to come back into the sport and help out.
- That chance conversation on Cookstown main street started a journey which I could never have imagined.
- I began on the track but quickly moved to the field events because I love the variety and the closer interaction with the athletes.
- My first big event was, believe it or not, World Cross Country in Belfast in 1999. However XC was never my thing and it was track and field which excited me.
- But hasn’t been plain sailing. In 2002 I went to the UK for my first experience over there. It was a two day Young Athletes Meeting and, if I could have got home after day 1, I would have been gone. Everything felt very different from officiating here in Northern Ireland. It seems so professional, so many officials and I felt completely out of my comfort zone. However, I persevered and in 2006 I passed my Grade 1 written field exam. This was the highest level of qualification you could obtain at that time.
- This allowed me to become part of what is known as the UK active list – the list of officials who can officiate at major UK televised meetings.
- My first major meeting was European Indoor Championships in 2007 in Birmingham where I was member of the call room team. This was a whole new experience but I thrived on it – got to know other UK officials, many of whom are still friends today.
- From there started a hugely privileged journey over the last 10-15 years
- 2011 Commonwealth Youth Games – Isle of Man
- 2012 London Olympic Games
- 2012 London Paralympics
- 2013 World Police and Fire Games (Belfast)
- 2014 Commonwealth Games (Glasgow)
- 2017 World Championships London
- 2017 World Paralympics London
- 2018 World Indoor Championships (Birmingham)
- 2019 European Indoor Championships (Glasgow)
- 2022 Commonwealth Games (Birmingham)
- 2024 World Indoors (Glasgow)
I have been honoured and so privileged to have participated in such wonderful events over the years
Why Officiating?
- It’s fun – a way of giving back
- Can be hard work, nerve wracking but also so rewarding
- Work as part of a team
- Really do become like family
- Facilitating/ enabling athletes to do their best– wonderful to watch athletes develop.
- Unique opportunity to share the agony and ecstasy of sport
- Can take it as far as you want – we need people to do local meetings but there are opportunities to be part of the big ones – if I can do it anyone can!
- No officials – no competition
- Come and join us – there’s a role for everyone – we’re all volunteers!
Highlights
- Super Saturday at London Olympics
- Womens Hammer final at Glasgow Commonwealth games – everything just flowed perfectly.
Photo credit: Paul Lawther
