Richard Evans, of Longhorsley, is one of eight referees from across the world to take charge of Boccia matches at the Paralympic Games in Beijing, China, which starts on September 6.

The 23-year-old, who studies physiotherapy at Teesside University, has been a referee in the sport since he was 16. It is similar to bowls and designed to be played by people with cerebral palsy and other locomotor disabilities affecting motor skills.

He qualified to become an international referee in 2004 and was chosen for the Games following impressive performances in World and European events.

Richard said: "It was a fantastic surprise and a great rush to be chosen for the Paralympics and it feels like being selected to take part in a sport.

"The pressure during the Games will be enormous, but I love the pressure and look forward to the challenge of keeping everything correct while at the same time allowing the sport to flourish.

"My dad (Stewart Evans) was the Great Britain boccia coach in the 90s and it was his passion for disability sport that inspired me to become a referee in boccia.

"I see my boccia role and physiotherapy work as linked because they both empower people, whether it's winning a medal or being able to put shoes on again."

After being head referee for a Paralympic warm up event in Manchester, Richard hopes to get the necessary experience over the next four years to get the role for the 2012 Olympics in London.

Once the tournaments are over, on September 14 Richard will be taking part in a 10k charity walk along with his referee colleagues along a section of the Great Wall of China for International China Concern (ICC), which has its UK base in Morpeth.

"It will be great to be part of the Walk the Wall event, which is an excellent opportunity for the charity to highlight what it does," he said.

"I have visited the Great Wall before when I went with Ponteland High School and so I know how hard it will be with the heat and humidity, although we will have plenty of time to complete the walk."

The school trip was in 2001 and the party was in Beijing when the Olympics and Paralympics were awarded to the city.

Richard has also been to the Asian country in 2004 and 2006 to do volunteer work for ICC, which works with the Chinese authorities to provide education and training to child care workers, as well as give round-the-clock care, therapy and education to more than 200 abandoned and disabled children.

He carried out physiotherapy work and helped to set up Chinese physio teams in welfare centres at Changsha and Hengyang.