Salvatore Relishing New Challenge in Officiating

Article courtesy of FIVB

MILAN, Italy (Sept. 23, 2010) - The USA's Patricia Salvatore is one of only two female referees set to officiate at the 2010 FIVB Men’s World Championship, but she says she is ready for this new challenge in a long and established career.

In total it is her third World Championship, but first men’s tournament. Debuting in Germany in 2002 and following this up in 2006 in Japan she has ample experience and is relishing the opportunity to oversee Pool F in Trieste which includes Serbia, Poland, Germany and Canada.

“Every time I get a new opportunity I appreciate it because the opportunities with the FIVB are greater than in my own country," 53 year-old Salvatore said. “Working men’s matches I enjoy doing, even more because of the women’s because of the challenge.”

She is joined at the tournament by Serbia’s Zorica Bjelic, and Salvatore explained that they have become good friends from the time they have spent together.

“It’s special to be here with Zorica Bjelic," Salvatore said. "We are great support for each other.”

Salvatore, a teacher when not refereeing on the international stage, decided to become an official while coaching at high school. "We were very good but kept getting held back by bad refereeing. That and my love for travelling made me want to become a referee.”

"My highlights were the Athens Olympic Games when I was second referee in the women’s gold-medal match between China and Russia," Salvatore said. "This was my first volleyball Olympic Games, not knowing what to expect and being my first tournament, to have that match was the icing on the cake and the match was great to be apart of it.”

But the American is yet to think about finishing, and still feels she has more to offer the sport.

“Every day I try to improve, challenge myself and continue until I have to retire in 2012," Salvatore said. "I have the best spectator view. No one is looking at me, they’re looking at the great show on the court and I’m there to make sure it is the best show on earth."

Tags: FIVB, FIVB World Championship, officials, referees