Latest update December 23rd, 2024 3:40 AM
Guyana’s lone FINA Referee/Starter Joanne Lowe to officiate at World Masters C/ships
Guyana’s only accredited FINA Referee/Starter Ms. Joanne Lowe leaves these shores today to perform Technical duties at the 15th FINA World Masters Championships that will be held in Montreal, Canada, August 2-10.
Joanne Lowe
Lowe, an experienced Coach/Instructor and Technical Official dating back to the 70s has kept her abilities relevant to the changing times thus the continued opportunities to officiate at international events by the World Governing body, FINA.
These championships will involve swimmers, divers and water polo players aged 25 to more than 100 years old from all corners of the world. The vibrant Masters movement actively promotes fitness, friendship, understanding and competition through its five disciplines (swimming, diving, water polo, synchronised swimming and open water swimming).
FINA officially created the Masters movement about 30 years ago, the first edition being held in 1986 in Tokyo, Japan. Starting in 2015, the FINA World Masters Championships will be held in conjunction with the FINA World Championships, taking place in Kazan, Russia.
Lowe’s involvement in the sport splashed off when she was a child in the 1970s through the YMCA Learn to Swim Programme and Life Guarding and Instructor Course.
After returning to Guyana in 1986, Lowe said she was invited to view a swim meet at the Castellani House Pool and was asked to assist; ever since Ms. Lowe has been involved with the sport as a Coach/Instructor and Technical Official.
Some of the competitions that Ms. Lowe has officiated at are listed below:
– IGG in French Guiana as both Referee and Starter
– Pan American Games in 2011 in Mexico as a Judge
– CARIFTA Swimming Championships 2013 in Jamaica as both Referee and Starter
– All International and National Swimming Championships held in Guyana
– Was appointed Referee for the CARIFTA Championships in Aruba this year but was unable to attend due to the lack of funding. Lack of communication also paid to Ms. Lowe being able to officiate at the South American Games, Chile 2014 and South American Youth Games that were held in Lima, Peru, last year after being selected by CONSANAT and the UANA bodies.
Next on the radar for Ms. Lowe is the Pan American Festival to be held in Mexico in September where she will again perform duties as a Technical Official.
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