African Hockey Federation | National Associations Summit talks strategy, digital and more!

27 January 2024

Lausanne, Switzerland: Upon the initiative of FIH President Tayyab Ikram, the second National Associations Summit took place today in Muscat, Oman, on the occasion of the first ever FIH Hockey5s World Cup! Around 35 National Associations were represented and discussed key strategic matters for the continued development of hockey worldwide.

The FIH President opened the session by saying: “I made it clear right from the start of my mandate, that hockey stakeholders, in particular FIH, Continental Federations and National Associations, need to meet in person on a regular basis. This is absolutely crucial in order to understand each other, ‘feel’ each other and grow our sport together!”

A central agenda item was the future strategy of FIH. Led under the banner “FIH Next Chapter: Innovate to Elevate”, this session focussed on topics such as empowerment and engagement of National Associations, exposure of the sport and understanding of the rules of hockey. As an example, Hockey Australia Vice President Pat Hall explained how Hockey Australia developed a strategy to grow hockey in the country towards the 2032 Brisbane Olympics.

Another major topic was digitalisation, with a presentation titled “FIH Digital Power Play: Navigating the Digital Revolution” given by Dutch Hockey Association (KNHB) President Erik Klein Nagelvoort. Whilst hockey has embraced digital for a number of years, the potential ahead remains huge, especially when it comes to the use of data for monetisation. For this, the global hockey community has to work as one … “One Hockey”!

President Ikram reported about his FIH activities and interactions, not only with Continental Federations and National Associations but also the IOC and the Olympic Movement at large, that are so important partners for hockey.

The FIH Finances were presented to all session participants with full transparency. The FIH audited accounts are available here.

With FIH taking its sustainability footprint very seriously, FIH’s global partner.

Polytan gave an update on the latest development of non-watered turf – that is being used for the first time in an FIH event at the current FIH Hockey5s World Cup – and the Paris GT Zero turf – hockey’s first carbon zero turf – that will be in place at the upcoming Olympics.

Furthermore, a detailed update on the activities of the Gender Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Committee was given by the Chair of the Committee, Marijke Fleuren.

Further information was shared about the FIH Centenary, the Olympic Games Paris 2024, Watch.Hockey and broadcast and commercial matters.

“Similar to the previous National Association Summit, I’m really delighted with the level of information that has been shared, the constructive atmosphere that has prevailed and the unity that was shown during this event. Discussions were so insightful! I’m more than ever convinced that such interactions are extremely beneficial for our development, and that there is a strong determination from all hockey stakeholders to not only grow, but grow together”, the FIH President concluded.

#HockeyInvites
#HockeyEquals

For more information about FIH and hockey in general, please consult FIH.hockey, follow the FIH social media channels – Facebook, Instagram and Twitter – and download the Watch.Hockey app.