The Chief Minister, Fabian Picardo QC, has publicly congratulated Nathan Stagno on being awarded the prestigious title of International Hockey Federation (FIH) Men’s Umpire of the Year.

The Chief Minister said: ‘Nathan has been a stellar example of our community for a very long time. In 2012 he was asked to umpire at the London Olympics and in 2014 I had the honour of awarding him the Gibraltar Medallion of Distinction for his outstanding achievements when umpiring the final of the Hockey World Cup in Holland. In December 2015 he was presented with his Golden Whistle on the occasion of officiating in his 100th international match in Raipur, India. Nathan has also been appointed to umpire at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, which will be his last international match before his well-earned retirement. I am sure the whole of Gibraltar will share in my pride in Nathan being named as the FIH Men’s Umpire of the Year, a fantastic achievement and a testament to his outstanding career’.