Rising to the Challenge: Macau’s Badminton Line Judges Take Center Stage at the Paris Olympics

The quadrennial Olympic Games (hereinafter referred to as the “Olympics”) are the world’s highest-level international comprehensive sports events and a dream palace for athletes from all over the world. Since Macau is not a member of the International Olympic Committee, it was unable to send representatives to participate. However, at this year’s 2024 Paris Olympics, Liang Cuijuan from Macau was invited to serve as an international line judge certified by the Badminton World Federation (BWF). Enforcement of badminton matches. She said, “I hope to use my experience to encourage the younger generation. Macau people can also participate in the Olympics. This is not just a dream!”

Invited to law enforcement at the Olympics

“Looking back on when I first started working as a referee, I was still an ignorant college student. I never thought that I would have the opportunity to officiate at a large-scale international sports event like the Olympics.” Liang Cuijuan said excitedly.

Liang Cuijuan, who works as a physical education teacher in a middle school, is very talkative, with a cheerful smile on her face from time to time, full of sunshine and vitality. She became associated with badminton in the second grade of junior high school. When she entered university, Macau was recruiting referees for international badminton events. She signed up for training and passed the junior referee qualification, and began to work as a referee. By 2006, when Macau hosted the Macau Badminton World Tour, she turned to the line referee job. “Later, because an international line judge retired, with the support of the Macau Badminton Association, I registered as an international line judge and gradually focused on the work of an international line judge.”

To become an international line judge, the process is by no means easy. Liang Cuijuan smiled and said that compared to Asian and international referees, the threshold for becoming an international line judge is already lower. “Line judges only need to have a certain amount of seniority and refereeing experience, and have excellent local refereeing performance. They can then be recommended by the local badminton association and be reviewed and registered by the World Badminton Federation. Generally, registration is done every four years. Macau is now able to There are two international line referees.”

She introduced that every international badminton competition invites each region to appoint at least one international line judge to enforce the law, giving line judges the opportunity to participate in different international events. “As long as you register successfully, you will have many opportunities to go out to study and experience. For example, I have participated in law enforcement work at the 2016 Asian Badminton Championships in Wuhan, the 2017 New Zealand Open, and the 2019 World Badminton Championships in Switzerland. .

Liang Cuijuan was very surprised when she learned that she was invited to participate in the Paris Olympics. “In the last Tokyo Olympics, I was invited to participate in the law enforcement work as a line judge. However, the event was postponed for one year due to the epidemic. In addition, considering the need for medical isolation after returning to Macao, weighing my own work and other factors, I finally gave up going. I thought that if I missed this opportunity, there would be no next chance. But I didn’t know that I would be invited again this time for the Paris Olympics. Of course I agreed without saying anything.” On July 23, she took a flight to Paris and went to attend the event in the afternoon after arriving! The meeting started a 15-day trip to Paris.

A trip to Paris to expand your knowledge

Liang Cuijuan introduced that the badminton competition of this year’s Paris Olympics will be held from July 27 to August 5. Pre-match meetings and on-site law enforcement will be held every day, which feels both fulfilling and fresh. “Every day’s work is divided into three shifts, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., and from 6 p.m. to the end of the last game. I have tried one day where the game ends at 11 p.m. On weekdays Normally, I would be assigned two shifts, but only one day I would have to work three shifts. During the finals, I would be able to work only one shift.” She said with a smile that compared to the international competitions she had participated in before, the organization and arrangements of the Olympic work were very good. good. In addition, nearly a hundred line judges participated in the entire event, making the work arrangement relatively easy. She added that during the competition, the conference set up a group on the communication software to release the latest news on the referees’ work, and also arranged shuttle buses to transport them to the competition venues. In addition, the referee will receive a transportation card, which allows him to take the subway and tram for free. “After work every day, I walk around and look around. Unfortunately, I cannot travel to various venues to watch events in other sports.”

Although she didn’t understand French, she was unexpectedly moved by the beauty and enthusiasm of the French. “The atmosphere in France is very good, especially when French players play, the audience will be very excited.”

Hope to bring positive energy to society

Liang Cuijuan said that when she went to Paris Olympics to serve as a line referee for the badminton competition, she did not expect that she would attract the attention of Macau society. “When news about me appears on social media, some students leave comments or forward the report, saying they are proud of my experience.”

After returning to Macau from Paris and ushering in the new school year in September, Liang Cuijuan prepared to share her Olympic experience with the students and brought back many souvenirs for them. “I expect to renew my term for one or two terms at most, and then I will retire from my job as an international line judge. I often tell students that when I retire, the next opportunity may be yours.” She hopes to encourage more young people. People devote themselves to the work of line referees and pass on their dreams.

“This time I successfully stood on the stage of the Paris Olympics and served as a line judge in badminton. I am very grateful for the support from all parties, including the Macau Badminton Association, which has always given me many opportunities to officiate in different events; The Macau SAR government subsidized my air tickets and transportation expenses, encouraging us to go out and broaden our horizons; and finally, my family’s unrelenting support allowed me to go to Paris without any worries.” Liang Cuijuan hopes to use the opportunity of this Olympics to reach more people. Being interested in the job of a line judge lets the public know that Macau people also have the opportunity to shine in large-scale international sports events.

Text: Zheng Meiying Picture: Interviewee Song Chushan