Umpire Wiremu Tamaki, confirmed to officiate at Beijing Olympic’s

It has certainly been a year to remember for Wellington softball umpire Wiremu Tamaki, who has been confirmed to officiate at next year’s Beijing Olympic Games. He is just the second New Zealand umpire to officiate at the Olympics, with the now chief umpire Wayne Saunders attending the 2004 Games in Athens.

“This is just unbelievable,” he said.

Tamaki earlier this year umpired at the Junior Women’s World Championship tournament and was appointed to the final, and until earlier this week he thought that would be a highlight for a while.

“That was amazing enough, but I am blown away by this,” he said.

“I didn’t really think I would get the call-up. I suppose my performance at the juniors helped.”

Tamaki was one of three umpires put forward by Softball New Zealand for the Olympic berth, and his appointment was confirmed at the International Softball Congress meeting which was held in Manila last week.

His rise to an Olympic berth is far cry from his umpiring debut which was to officiate a game between Poneke-Kilbirnie, whose line-up included Black Sox players Kere Johanson, Thomas Makea and Mike Nichols.

“They looked after me,” Tamaki said.

Tamaki will be New Zealand’s sole representative in softball at the Olympic Games with the White Sox failing to qualify and the men not being on the programme for the Games.