STAFF FEATURE: CUSTOMER SERVICES’ STEVE TAYLOR TO JUDGE AT 2024 OLYMPIC GAMES IN PARIS

IFGL Customer Services Administrator Steve Taylor will travel to the Olympic Games in Paris this summer in the role of race walking judge.  

It will be his third Olympic appointment – he also officiated at the London 2012 Olympic Games and again at the 2016 games in Rio de Janeiro. 

“I am over the moon to have been selected to officiate at the Olympics, some officials have never had one and here am I off to my third.” - Steve Taylor, Customer Services Administrator at IFGL since 2020.

Before he became a judge, Steve enjoyed success as a race walker himself and represented the Isle of Man at the Commonwealth Games in Victoria BC, Canada, In 1994.  

He retired from competitive race walking in 1997 but his eldest children Callum and Kirsty took up the sport.  

When, in 2003, Callum was disqualified at the national junior championships in Sheffield, Steve decided there and then that he wanted to become a race walking judge.   

His first big event as a judge was the European Junior Championships in Hengelo, Netherlands, and then in 2007 he was appointed to officiate at the World Athletics Championships in Osaka, Japan. Since that time, Steve’s list of appointments include:   

• Two Olympic Games (Paris will be his third). He was Chief Judge at London 2012
• Five World Championships. He was Chief Judge in 2013 and 2017
• Five World Team Championships
• Three European Championships. He was Chief Judge in 2014
• Two Commonwealth Games. He was Chief Judge in 2022

2022 was a particularly busy year during which Steve judged at the World Team Championships, World Athletics Championships, European Athletics Championships and the Commonwealth Games.  

Steve has also judged at World and European Grand Prix meetings and at age group championships, and has been technical delegate at a number of World and European Athletics Grand Prix events. In 2023, he was Technical Delegate at the European Team Championships in Poděbrady, Czech Republic.

‘The most important event is the one you are officiating at the time. I have the Isle of Man track and field championships before I head to Paris for which I am currently organising a team of judges. However, the Olympics is something else, it is on another level and many sports men and women say it is the pinnacle of their careers, well, it’s the same for officials. 

‘Impartiality is key to being a good judge and I gained some notoriety when starting out when issuing a red card against my own daughter. Three red cards would lead to a disqualification and I issued the third card. My daughter crossed the line in tears and when asked what was wrong she replied, “My Dad has just disqualified me”. 

‘The athletics schedule for the Olympics covers almost two weeks and I will head out arriving a few days before the first event. As an official, I will not stay in the Olympic village as that is reserved for the athletes. As soon as Paris was awarded the Olympics international sports federations, in my case World Athletics, would have secured accommodation at several hotels for their officials, staff and council members. Being an official doesn’t give me easy access to any events, not even the athletics and as such I will have to apply for tickets like everyone else. However, the officials are often so busy they don’t get the chance to watch anything.

‘I will have a number of meetings organised by the Chief Judge along with numerous other officials and technical partners associated with the events I am involved in. Attendance is mandatory. Failure to attend could jeopardise my participation at this and future events. Our performance will be constantly monitored and assessed post event. As well as the actual judging this includes how we act on the field of play, how we participate in meetings, interaction with other officials and our appearance. We are issued with a uniform and it must be worn when on duty.

‘The most important thing for me to remember is why I am in Paris and it’s not for sightseeing it’s to officiate at the Olympic Games. Preparation means judging as often as possible making sure that I get good experience and learn from any mistakes that I make. I am in attendance at most events on the Island but that’s a different level. I spent two weeks in China earlier this year judging their Olympic trials. China are one of the powerhouses in world race walking so this was a chance not to be missed and it provided to be an ideal experience ideal as I prepare for the Olympics, an opportunity to get my eye in so to speak. Whilst there I also gave a lecture to the Chinese officials which certainly tested my knowledge of the sport along with its rules and regulations.

‘I have also officiated at a number of events in Europe that are part of the World Athletics race walking challenge and are attended by the best walkers in the world as they seek to obtain the required qualification standards.

'I still get nervous before an event and have been known to be physically sick. I don’t think I will be any different in Paris.

‘I’ve always considered myself very fortunate to be involved in athletics at this level. Coming from a small place like the Isle of Man and officiating at the Olympics I believe is an incredible achievement but I believe that the achievements of officials is so often overlooked. Head of Competition at World Athletics told me my appointment was a testament to my technical ability and reputation in the world of athletics officials. Whilst the judge’s job does see us issue red cards against athletes, which often leads to their disqualification, I see my role as trying to ensure the best athletes come out on top and as many as possible make it across the finish line.’