Mark Porteous或許是壘球世界最傑出的裁判之一，但是他仍然很意外被世界棒壘球總會（World Baseball Softball Confederation，WBSC）選進明年的2020東京奧運執法。
Porteous是在2020年一月收到消息，他獲確認將是2020東京奧運壘球比賽九位裁判之一。
＂我是既意外又感到榮耀被選到，特別是紐西蘭並沒有取得參賽權。＂他說。＂能夠有兩位來自大洋洲的裁判，這相當特別。＂
在非常短的期間之內，他在兩項壘球世界盃與奧運壘球資格賽執法，幫助他獲選為2019 紐西蘭年度壘球人士 ，更甚於這個國家的其他壘球選手。
"It's great to see that [Softball New Zealand] actually recognises the third team, so to speak, officials, as well as players and coaches,'' Porteous told New Zealand news media website Stuff.
In 2019, he was the first base umpire in the final of the WBSC Men’s Softball World Championship in Prague, the Czech Republic. He also officiated at the WBSC Softball Asia/Oceania Olympic Qualifier in Shanghai, China. His international season ended with the 2020 WBSC U-18 Men’s Softball World Cup in Palmerston North, New Zealand, this past February.
"Most of the [Tokyo 2020] umpires were at Palmerston North, so we all got together for a bit of a warm-up, and we've continued to meet on Zoom regularly since.”
A former third baseman and utility, Porteous started his umpiring career in 2006, right after his retirement as a player. He received his national umpire's badge in 2008 and international certification in 2011.
His first world championships final -- the WBSC Junior Men’s Softball World Championship 2012 in Argentina -- had an electric and challenging Parana crowd of six to seven thousand spectators.
"The fans were whooping and hollering, there were drums, fireworks, trumpets. The place went absolutely crazy.''
After Tokyo 2020 Games, Porteous says he'll "keep going".
"I think I'm still performing reasonably well," said Porteous. "I'm fit... and keep on top of things. The next men's [Softball] World Cup is here at [North Harbour's] Rosedale Park in 2022.
"I'll be involved in some capacity, but I would like to still be umpiring...That would be a target goal.”
