Paris 2024 Paralympics: Archibald proud to represent England as Referee Delegate

He travels out to the French capital tomorrow ahead of the Opening Ceremony on 28th August before the action itself runs from 29th August to 7th September and the closing ceremony rounds things off on 8th September.

The prestigious appointment follows a successful career refereeing in international para volleyball, where Glynn officiated at a number of top-level events.

He is proud to be continuing to serve the sport and to represent England for what promising to be an exciting 12 days, following hot on the heels of a hugely-entertaining Olympics in late July and early August.

“As a Referee Delegate in Paris, I will work with an assistant Referee Delegate and three observers to help ensure the competitions runs smoothly from an officials point of view,” said Glynn.

“We have to ensure that the preparation is right and get involved in a number of things such as the protocols, the correct number of officials to run the event and ensuring that everything at the venue and the courts is as it should be for an event such as this.

“Then there is the appointment of the officials and the observation of them throughout their time in Paris, as well as the reporting at the end.

“There’s also working with other technical officials and the media to ensure that everything runs smoothly and meets their needs.

“It’s always an honour to represent England, Great Britain and World ParaVolley and, when people trust you with something, you want to repay the trust shown in you.”

Like many who go on to become officials in any sport, Glynn’s interest in volleyball started as a player.

He subsequently stepped into refereeing to help out his club – and never looked back.

Although he has retired from international refereeing duty, Glynn still regularly referees National Volleyball League (NVL) and Sitting Grand Prix matches, as well as appointing referees for the latter competition as Head Official.

“It all goes back to when I was 17 in 1979 and I got introduced to the sport – and it was all about playing at that stage,” he said. “It was not long after that I was selected in the St Lucia national team squad, where I grew up. I didn’t get much court time, but I enjoyed it all the same.

“I continued to play over the years in the Caribbean and then eventually took up coaching as well.

“When I moved over to England in 1999, I played a little bit of local and National League in Watford and it was there that I got involved in officiating.

“The club had a place on a referee’s course and asked me if I would go on it and I thought ‘sure, why not?’.

That was back in 2002 and once I qualified, I started refereeing a bit locally and then in the National League and eventually started doing it as far north as Loughborough, because I wanted to help people out as much as I could.

“It was around 2006 to 2007 that I got involved in refereeing sitting volleyball in what was the lead-up to the London Paralympics in 2012.

“I then did an international referee’s course and was appointed to officiate in those London games, and I also officiated at the Rio 2016 Paralympics too, as well as the World Championships in 2018, before retiring.

“After that I took on a Referees’ Commissioner role with World ParaVolley, which I have held from then until now.”

As an international sitting volleyball referee, Glynn considers the London 2012 Paralympics as his most special moment.

He said: “When I was refereeing at London 2012, it was a big thing because I was refereeing a bronze medal match and there was a lot of stake.

“I was aware that I was representing England and World ParaVolley so you want to do the very best job that you possibly can.

“Being from the UK, it was also amazing being at a home games and when I was announced to the crowd I got a big cheer.”

Glynn acknowledges the game of sitting volleyball has changed a great deal down the years and continues to evolve.

He will be keeping a close eye on how the rules are upheld in Paris.

“The game has moved on a huge amount. The biggest difference is around the lifting rule and the interpretation,” said Glynn.

“At one time you had to be on the ground most of the time, but what is happening now the rules are just that little bit more relaxed which makes it that much more spectacular.

“That’s been happening in the last four years, but now we have found the teams are starting to push the boundaries, and it’s up to us as the officials to draw the line somewhere.”

While it is a tremendous honour to help oversee proceedings at the North Paris Arena, located in the Villepinte Exhibition Centre in Seine-Saint-Denis, Glynn is fully aware he has an important role to fulfil.

“When it has come and gone I will definitely look back at it with an immense amount of pride,” he said. “But for the moment, we have a job to do, and it is going to be a busy time.”