Esse Baharmast as a young boy in Iran dreamed of playing soccer in the Olympics. He did make it to the Olympics in Atlanta in 1996, not as a player but as a referee. He would have an extensive career serving in multiple Olympic and FIFA World Cup competitions as a referee, an assessor, mentor, instructor, and more. He has served FIFA, Concacaf, US Soccer, and continues to work today in his home state association of Colorado.