Juan Manuel Uruñuela (Vitoria, 1967) is one of those basketball figures that, despite his excellent work on the parquet, is barely remembered to … worldwide. His journey as a collegiate began at age 13 when he pointed a friend with an arbitration course. Little by little, Alavés was taking the taste and progressing to be considered one of the best referees in the world in chair basketball. The Alavés has taken part in the Paralympic Games of Barcelona 1992, Athens 2004, Beijing 2008, London 2012, Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020.
– What will you miss most from arbitration?
– Exit the changing room tunnel, emboca to the court and feel that adrenaline point. Also put my music before the games. Depending on how I could put Coldplay, Pink Floyd or even the Tres de Miliki table. When my daughter was learning to multiply her to hesitate (laughs).
– Are you going to continue linked to the world of arbitration?
– I am a tutor of a group of young people nationwide and instructor, supervisor and examiner worldwide for 20 years. Recently I was giving a talk in Romania and they want another in Bulgaria. I will continue to transmit my experience outside the court.
– What attracted him to the basketball in chair to focus more than on the conventional one?
– I have been 45 seasons of which 40 have been in a chair. I got into the latter from my Uncle Fonso, who died three years ago and had an intellectual disability. This world for me is important. There was a chair basketball game that nobody wanted to arbitrate and decided to do it. I didn’t find out anything I did and congratulated me. That bothered me and I started learning about it.
In the locker room
“He put a Miliki song before the games when my daughter learned to multiply”
– He has been in six Paralympic Games. If you could only stay with some. What would it be?
– Those of Barcelona in 1992. When with 25 years you see yourself in such an event and you live all that boom in the first person is something indescribable. Although after being international I was a time that I dedicated myself to foot basketball I saw that my career progressed rapidly. Every time I listen to the song of ‘Barcelona’ by Freddie Mercury and Montserrat Caballé puts my chicken skin. In addition, I went with what is my wife currently and I could enjoy the Olympic Village with me. When you touch the glory it is great and you don’t want to release it. It was something spectacular.
– What is the most exciting game that you remember internationally?
– Latest. When I arbitrated tokio as the main collegiate the male final between the United States and Japan and knew that the ball was not going to throw the ball again many feelings and memories. But you have to take aside and leave space for others.
– Is there any anecdote that saves with love of international experiences?
– In every trip I have generated some. I really liked to find myself at the Athens Olympic Games with which I was president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Juan Antonio Samaranch when I went up to the acropolis. For me touching him there in those Olympics seemed unattainable.
current arbitration
«At the national level I have always seen it high. We have one of the best leagues in Europe »
– How do you see the current arbitration level?
– At the national level I have always seen it tall and I think it is consistent with the leagues. We have one of the best that is right now in Europe and arbitration is consistent with it. A great competition is strange with poor arbitration and vice versa. I think the two go hand in
– What is the worst they have told about the court?
– In 45 seasons my mother has only seen me arbitrate twice. One of those occasions was in Europe and there was also one of my cousins. We were simply warming up and they started calling me ‘son of a bitch’. It seems terrible and is not justifiable. My mother had to go.
– How would you like you to remember?
– Like a good partner. I have always tried to be the best possible for everyone.
“In the Paris games my wife and my daughter were like celebrities”
Uruñuela is considered one of the best chair basketball referees. After his withdrawal from the international scope, the Vitorian went with his wife and daughter to the last Olympic Games in Paris in which he received first hand all the respect and affection of those present. «Everyone came to greet them not for my sports curriculum, but for what I have transferred and lived with them. My wife and daughter were like celebrities, “he says, despite the fact that” I found it hard to go to some Olympics and not participate. ” So much so that even high positions and the Portuguese Regina Costa, worldwide president of disability classifiers, approached the VIP box where they were to thank her for their work. «While the games were played, one could not stand and sat on the ground until in a dead time he could come to greet us and hug us. What else can I ask for? ”He says.
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