ONE OF A KIND

Wrestling is one of the most complicated sports to umpire. Too much depends on the referee’s experience and qualification. The organizing committee of the 2nd World Wrestling Championship of the Deaf has done it’s best to assemble a great refereeing. Apart from the best Armenian referees the tournament will be umpired by several FILA licensed referees from other countries. Among them is Ronald Gough from the United States: a unique person, he is the only deaf referee in the world who has an international FILA license. We just could not miss the possibility to interview him.

- Good morning, Ron! Do you like it here in Armenia? Could you share your impressions with us?

- I came late last night so I didn’t get the chance to see the city. I took a little walk this morning, though, I saw all those old houses, archways and courtyards. I really liked them. I feel this city’s unique aura. When I came here, to the Palace of culture and sport, I ran into Mehmet Bilgili. He is the ICDS technical director for wrestling and also my friend. We were really happy to see each other. I must say that the atmosphere at this championship is great, very friendly and cordial.

- That’s because you are in Armenia. Now, let’s talk about you. You are a unique person, the only deaf referee in the world to have an international FILA license. Tell me, how did you manage to get such a high rank?
- I umpire wrestling duels all my life. I have gotten a referee’s license in USA about twenty years ago and I have umpired all kinds of contests back home. I communicate with my colleagues using notes. At start many of them were prejudiced against me but then they saw my expertise and came to trust me. This is how I got the international FILA license. I have refereed many different competitions including world championships. Unfortunately, I didn’t have the chance to work at Olympics but it’s only the very best who go there.

- You are certainly the deaf referee number one. Tell me, what is special in umpiring competitions of the deaf? Do you think it’s easier for a deaf referee to work with deaf sportsmen or not?
- Of course there is a difference. For example, whistles are replaced by tactile contact at deaf competitions. A deaf referee will adjust to that psychologically much more easily. There are many nuances that a deaf referee will get with less effort.

- We all know that refereeing a sore subject for wrestling. Both coaches and athletes always have multiple complaints, some of them quite fair. Do you think there is a way to improve international deaf competition refereeing?
-  Firstly, referees should come from as many different countries as possible. Your organizing team has done really well: half of the referees are from Armenia and half comes from different parts the world. This will surely make refereeing more unbiased.
Secondly, we need to train as many deaf referees as possible. I try to do that back home. I help several bright guys but none of them has got higher than the third category yet. By the way, Internet helps a lot. There was a time when I could only explain something when seeing the person face to face and now I gladly advise via a webcam.

- Thank you very much for your time, Ron!