Former Technical Director, Nigeria Weightlifting Federation (NWF), Lawrence Iquaibom explained to www.aclsports.com that referees must attended several championships to get invited for games like the Commonwealth and Olympics.
Iquaibom who disclosed this on Tuesday said International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) gives opportunities of officiating at international events to referees who can afford to apply.
He spoke to us following our report of unhappy coaches and sports federations’ staff here
The 1982 commonwealth games Silver Medallist revealed that referees in weightlifting pay for their return flight tickets to attend international championships.
He cited an example of himself paying for his ticket to last year’s world championships in the United States.
“It might interest you to know that, referees in weightlifting pay for their return flight tickets to attend international championships. Good example is last year’s world championships in USA, I paid for my ticket. Opportunity is always given by IWF to referees who can afford it to apply,” the Akwa Ibom sports director said.
“It’s only during games like Olympics, Commonwealth and African games that the organisers provide tickets for referees; but you must have attended championships to gain enough experience before you are selected for such,” he added.
