Well known in Ireland and building an ever-increasing profile in big time international cycling, Paul Watson has landed a top job for the Rio Olympics.
Irish riders may still be chasing qualification for the Rio Olympics next summer, but one Irishman definitely on the plane to Brazil is commissaire Paul Watson.
The UCI has named him among a small group of commissaires who will officiate at the track events in Rio.
His selection is a fantastic achievement for a man who has worked for many years on the domestic front and has more recently really begun to cement his reputation on the international stage.
As well as taking control at a number of hour record attempts by top pro riders this year, including the new record holder Bradley Wiggins, Watson has officiate at UCI World Cup level.
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He is currently in Cambridge, New Zealand, working on the second round of the World Cup.
Watson had already been selected to work as a commissaire for the World Track Championships in London next year, come just months before the biggest assignment for a man in his role in Rio.
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Cycling Ireland issued its congratulations to Watson, describing his being appointment for Rio, where he will be one of the five-person panel of international commissaires supplemented by local national commissaires.
“Paul’s appointments to the Track Cycling World Championships in London and now the Summer Olympics in Rio are outstanding achievements brought about by the professionalism he has displayed since becoming a UCI international commissaire,” the federation said.
“Given there is no indoor velodrome in Ireland in which Paul could gain track experience prior to becoming a UCI International Track Commissaire his inclusion in this group of elite track commissaires has been tremendous.
“His success and upcoming appointments have been well merited achievements for him.”
As well as the Worlds in London and the Rio Olympics, Watson has landed a large number of other assignments abroad in the next six to eight months.
They include working as commissaire the UCI Paracycling World Championships in Italy and some at least six international road races in Europe.
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