Jan Timms has been selected as Games Commissioner (GC) for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games wheelchair basketball competition, which takes place from 28 August to 8 September.
Hailing from Sheffield, Jan is a stalwart of the sport having dedicated countless hours to the game as an Official.
Regularly seen behind the table in the British Wheelchair Basketball National League, Jan has frequent appearances on the international stage too having previously been selected for EuroCup, World, and European championships.
A GC is a varied role that evolves throughout the course of a competition, particularly at the Paralympic Games. Prior to games getting underway, the GCs oversee safety checks on chairs and the venue, meet with the wider officiating team (Technical Delegate (TD), Tournament Technical Commission (TTC), Referees and supervisors and the National Technical Officials (NTOs), and deliver informative material to ensure the competition runs smoothly which also helps develop International Technical Officials (ITOs) skills.
When competition gets underway, GCs work with the table officials and support the referees when needed. Post-game, they’ll be assisting the TDs to ensure all protocol is followed.
Jan commented on her selection for Paris 2024:
“It’s a great honour to be recognised and selected as one of four Game Commissioners (GCs) for Paris 2024. I’ve also been asked to deliver the welcome session to the National Technical Officials (NTOs) and explain how the GC works with them and how both the Nation and International Technical Officials (ITOs) are all part of one team! I’m sure the additional responsibility is because my first language is English (Yorkshire), but it’s an honour nonetheless.
“As a GC, if the game runs well, then we have the best seat in the house to watch our beautiful game. If there are issues, then we may have to step up and resolve them as quickly and efficiently as possible so as not to delay the game.
“Paris 2024 will be my third Paralympics. London 2012 was my first as an NTO. Tokyo was my second, however it was my first as an ITO – it was a very different atmosphere due to the pandemic but the competition on the floor was still fierce. I’m looking forward to Paris to feel that energy and emotion from all the teams (including the ITO and NTO teams), and spectators again.
“It’s great to meet up with International friends and to be representing British Wheelchair Basketball and IWBF Europe alongside David Kingstone (GBR) who is a member of the TTC, and Steph Gagne (GBR) representing IWBF World coordinating the media from IWBF.”
Jan will also be joining her brother in Paris for their second Paralympic Games together, who will be an ITO for wheelchair rugby. Their first Games together was London 2012.
Read the full announcement from IWBF here: https://iwbf.org/2024/07/11/international-technical-officials-for-wheelchair-basketball-competition-at-paris-2024-paralympic-games/
The schedule for the Paris 2024 wheelchair basketball competition can be found here: https://olympics.com/en/paris-2024/paralympic-games/schedule/wheelchair-basketball
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