Peter OLeary is set to add an Olympic Games to his already formidable refereeing resume with appointment to the Mens Olympic Football Tournament in London. OLeary will lead his Oceania trio fellow kiwi Jan-Hendrik Hintz and Ravinesh Kumar from Fiji are his assistant referees among a total of 16 refereeing teams from 22 nations.
The Whangarei school teacher has already officiated at eight FIFA events including four FIFA Club World Cups, two FIFA U-20 World Cups, an U-17 World Cup and the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa where he was a fourth official. Hintz, a trade manager in Auckland, is also becoming a veteran of FIFA events having run the line for matches at a FIFA World Cup, a FIFA Confederations Cup, a FIFA Club World Cup and a FIFA U-17 World Cup.
For referees at London 2012, the tournament also represents the first step on the road to the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. Its another step on the journey to the World Cup, another chance for us to show what weve got at a global event and another opportunity for New Zealand to shine, said OLeary Were at the pointy end of a big object really, We couldnt do it without the support of New Zealand Football, OFC and FIFA or physios, medical staff and of course family and friends.
New Zealand Football Referee Development Manager Ken Wallace said the selections were well deserved. The selection of Peter and Jan is a credit to the years of hard work they have put in and their discipline to the craft of refereeing, said Wallace. Weve had 74 appointments to FIFA events in the last five years so the pathway through local and national leagues in New Zealand to OFC tournaments and on to international matches is now firmly established and is backed by a comprehensive referee development programme. We also have extremely valuable international relationships with organisations like Englands Professional Game Match Officials and Oceania Football Confederation to enhance the development of our elite referees. Massimo Busacca, Head of FIFA Refereeing explained the concept behind the selection of officials. The FIFA Refereeing team works just like the technical staff of a national football team, and we are the Head Coach said Busacca. In addition, a team of technical instructors - former international referees - fitness instructors, physiotherapists and Sports Scientists (including from F-MARC) will regularly review the best referees before selecting the best possible officials for FIFAs forthcoming competitions.
The Oly Whites and Football Ferns have both qualified for their second Olympic Games and on Wednesday received NZOC ratification for competing in London. They find out who they will play at Tuesday nights draw in London.
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