Catalan referees and judges take centre stage at a session of the History Seminar

The round table, moderated by Jordi Alcover, was made up of Santiago Deo, Hortènsia Graupera, Josep Manuel Cortés and Montserrat Ubia. The journalist Joan Manel Surroca, for his part, presented his book “Àrbitres i Jutges Olímpics Catalans” (“Catalan Olympic Referees and Judges”), which includes the men and women, over 40 of them in all, who have contributed to ensuring fair play at the Olympic Games.

Santiago Deo, a field hockey referee, has taken part in 5 Olympics: Moscow ’80, Los Angeles ’84, Seoul ’88, Barcelona ’92 and Sydney 2000. With the exception of Moscow ’80 he has been entrusted with refereeing the final in all the Games he has attended.

José Manuel Cortés, a judo referee, has been present at 3 Olympic Games: Beijing 2008, London 2012 and Rio 2016. He is currently number one in the referees’ world ranking.

Hortènsia Graupera was a synchronised swimming judge at the Sydney 2000, Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008 Olympics.

Monserrat Ubia was a gymnastics judge at Atlanta ’96, Sydney 2000, Athens 2004 and Rio 2016.