World Athletics reports that Two mother-daughter duos hope their pivotal part at the World Athletics Indoor Championships Glasgow 24 will inspire others to become athletics officials.

Lorna Rogers and daughter Lesley were two of 25 Scottish officials selected as part of a 95-strong team for the event, which saw some of the best track and field stars compete for up to 108 medals.

Lorna, who also works as a dentist, is a level 4 track official, while 19-year-old Lesley, an admin and IT student, is a level 2 track official.

Without officials – the unsung heroes of track and field – competition couldn’t occur, and the Rogers were thrilled to be part of a global event.

Lorna, a video judge in Glasgow, said: “We’re there to be official, but we’re not there to make life harder for athletes. We want to do our best for the athletes and see the occasion as good for Glasgow, good for the sport, and good value for the spectators.”

Lorna and Lesley are competitive members of Dundee Hawkhill Harriers, have a shared love for athletics, and are inspired to continue to learn and develop as officials.

Lorna has been a qualified official since 2015 but has been involved in athletics for 42 years. At the peak of her competitive career, she made British age group teams and represented Scotland in the sprint and 400m hurdles. A qualified coach, Lorna decided to get her officiating qualifications after helping at league matches.

Selected as a call room judge for the championships, Lesley has been officiating for around three years, but her relationship with track and field is as old as she is. Her mum took her trackside when she was just two days old!

Lesley said: “The camaraderie of the track team is just brilliant, and I learn loads from them.”

Discussing the benefits of her role, Lorna said: “Age is no barrier to officiating or volunteering. I would encourage anyone to officiate and volunteer because it’s so rewarding in many ways.”

Fellow mum-and-daughter pair and Dundee Hawkhill Harriers members Carol and Rebekah Rose were also among the workforce at WIC Glasgow 24.

Carol and 21-year-old pharmacy student Rebekah were part of the technical team and as a call room judge, respectively. Adding to the family theme, Carol’s husband and son, Rebekah’s dad and brother, were also involved as volunteers, making it a truly family affair.

A bookkeeper, level 4 field official, level 1 track official, and coach, Carol got into officiating when Rebekah started to compete. She said: “I think that’s one of the things we all like about officiating and athletics in Scotland because the four of us can all be involved. We can be at the same venue, doing the same event, but we can all be doing different things.

Rebekah, who was selected as a young official at the 2019 European Athletics Indoor Championships in Glasgow when she was 16 and is now a level 3 official, added: “I just wanted to make the most of the opportunity. I was most excited about getting the opportunity to go into the call room – if you could put me anywhere, it’s the place I’d choose to go – and to learn what’s required at this level.”

Anyone new to athletics and interested in becoming a volunteer can sign up for the Assistant Officials course. Those who volunteer for a local club or understand the athletics competition environment can sign up for the Level 1 course in their preferred officiating discipline.