Brian Littlejohn, a member of the City of Sheffield Water Polo Club, has been invited to officiate at the Beijing Olympics as a water polo referee.

 

Brian started out as a water polo player in Scotland. He represented Scotland and Great Britain in goal at both Junior and Senior levels at various competitions and European Championships up until 1995.

 

In 1997, Brian qualified as an International Water Polo Referee, which has allowed him to referee at many international tournaments. Brian’s refereeing highlights include a number of high profile tournaments such as the World Championships in Barcelona in 2003 and Los Angeles in 2007 and the 2006 Commonwealth Championship in Perth, Australia where he was appointed to referee the Men’s final.

 

Last year, Brian was selected as a neutral referee ('neutral referee' is one where there is not a team from that country competing) by the sports Worlds Governing Body FINA  for the Junior World Championships in Los Angeles and no doubt his solid performance there put him in good stead for his selection to Beijing.

 

Brian’s selection is a wonderful achievement and a credit to British water polo. From over 200 qualified referees worldwide there are just 24 water polo referees invited to officiate at the Olympic Games and the last British referee to officiate at an Olympic Games was David Bathurst in 1992 at Barcelona. Additionally, Brian does his refereeing on a voluntary basis attending various competitions to which he is appointed each year.

 

Brian is expected to be in Beijing from 8th to the final match on the 24th August. Once in Beijing he will begin his duties with the 12 men's and 8 women's teams competing in the Olympics, a full schedule of matches.