9 March 2022 Lausanne, Switzerland: Following last week’s decision by the Executive Board (EB) of the International Hockey Federation (FIH) to exclude Russia from the upcoming FIH Hockey Women’s Junior World Cup, the national team of Austria will now join this top-flight event scheduled from 1 to 12 April in Potchefstroom, South Africa. Austria will take the place of Russia in Pool C, therefore joining Argentina, Korea and Uruguay. It will be Austria’s first-ever participation in a FIH Hockey Women’s Junior World Cup. Furthermore, FIH continues to be in contact with the Hockey Association of Ukraine and is still hopeful that the Ukrainian team will be able to participate in the event in South Africa. For more information about FIH and hockey in general, please download the Watch.Hockey app or follow the FIH social media channels – Facebook, Instagram and Twitter – and website.

8 March 2022 Lausanne, Switzerland: From leading a national team at the FIH Hockey Women’s Junior World Cup to returning from childbirth to lead a country to silver at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, we focus on five women who have demonstrated through quietly getting on with things and adopting a can-do approach, that dreams can become a reality. On International Women’s Day, we bring together five women, representing five continents who each, in their own way, provides inspiration to others by the weight of their achievements. From Korea, Seona Kim is a young woman who has just set out on her path to international honours. Her philosophy is simple: ‘I don’t have a role model, I simply put the effort into achieving my goals.’ Aleisha Neumann is a member of the senior teaching group in a large multi-ethnic school in Australia. Many of the skills of communication and people management translate from umpiring to teaching and back again. Tokyo 2020 were Aleisha’s first Olympic experience but she gets equal pleasure from umpiring domestic league hockey. For her, it is about the friendships and connections that she makes along the way. When international hockey opportunities are hard to come by, you appreciate each one all the more. For Phumelela Mbande of South Africa, this made her team’s performance at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 hard to accept as South Africa finished 12th. Rather than making excuses, the goalkeeper and her colleagues are determined to turn this around at the FIH Hockey Women’s World Cup. She says the forthcoming event is one of the most important events the team will have been part of as it is a chance to re-establish South Africa on the women’s international stage. India national women’s team Head Coach Janneke Schopman spent part of her adult life working in the construction industry. It was there that the Dutch Olympian learnt the important message that, if you want something badly enough, then you should just go for it – regardless of perceived barriers such as gender. She also adds that, no matter where you are in your career or your life, you should grab every learning opportunity as it presents itself. Argentina women’s national team has had a good few months. Last August they won silver at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, in January they were crowned Pan Am Cup champions, thus qualifying for the FIH Hockey Women’s World Cup and they currently sit at the top of the FIH Hockey Pro League, ahead of arch rivals Netherlands. For Rocio Sanchez, this is all the more special because she gets to share the experiences with her daughter Fran. Born ahead of the Olympic Games, Fran now accompanies Rocio to hockey matches when it is possible. The presence of a new person in her life has changed the Leonas star’s outlook, making her a more empathetic person. It also proves that, with the right mindset and attitude, anything is possible. All video interviews are available here. For more information about FIH and hockey in general, please download the Watch.Hockey app or follow the FIH social media channels – Facebook, Instagram and Twitter – and website.

1 March 2022 Lausanne, Switzerland: Following yesterday’s recommendation by the IOC to avoid the participation of Russian athletes and officials in international competitions – in order to protect the integrity of global sports competitions and for the safety of all participants – the Executive Board (EB) of the International Hockey Federation (FIH) has taken the decision to exclude Russia from the upcoming FIH Hockey Women’s Junior World Cup scheduled from 1 to 12 April in Potchefstroom, South Africa. Earlier this week, FIH had expressed its full solidarity with the members of Ukraine’s hockey community at this terrible time. FIH is in regular contact with the Hockey Association of Ukraine and is doing its utmost to offer any support it can, in the hope that the Ukrainian team will be able to participate in the upcoming FIH Hockey Women’s Junior World Cup. FIH expresses its strong hope for a peaceful resolution rapidly.

1 March 2022 Lausanne, Switzerland: The International Hockey Federation (FIH) has today revealed the match schedule of the FIH Hockey Women’s World Cup Spain & Netherlands 2022 (1-17 July). The opening match of the 15th edition of the most prestigious event in women’s hockey – alongside the Olympics – will see hosts Spain taking on Canada on 1 July 2022 in Terrassa, Spain. Matches in Amsterdam, Netherlands – co-hosting the tournament with Spain – will start on the next day (2 July) with New Zealand playing China. Both venues will host Pool matches, cross-overs, classification matches and quarter-finals, with Terrassa – which welcomed the Olympic hockey tournaments in 1992 – hosting the semi-finals, the match for the 3rd place and the final. Another major milestone is coming to life today with the start of the ticket sales! Tickets will be sold via the following online ticketing platforms: https://bit.ly/Tickets-Spain (for matches in Spain) https://wkhockey2022.com/ (for matches in the Netherlands) Fans are encouraged to book early! 16 teams are in the race to be crowned World Champions. The draw to define the Pools was done on 17 February in Terrassa, at the National Museum of Science and Technology of Catalonia: Pool A: Netherlands, Germany, Ireland, Chile Pool B: England, New Zealand, India, China Pool C: Argentina, Spain, Korea, Canada Pool D: Australia, Belgium, Japan, South Africa Furthermore, the tournament’s mascot was revealed at the draw ceremony. This lovely dragon symbolizes the values of women in Hockey: passion, strength, wisdom, change, courage, vitality, protection and majesty. All hockey fans around the world are invited to suggest a name for the mascot through a contest running until 18 March. The chosen name will be revealed on 23 March. The voting platform link is: https://bit.ly/WorldCupMascot #HWC2022  #HWCMascot  #HockeyInvites For more information about FIH and hockey in general, please download the Watch.Hockey app or follow the FIH social media channels – Facebook, Instagram and Twitter – and website.

2 March 2022 Lausanne, Switzerland: The International Hockey Federation (FIH) and the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) have jointly announced today the 20 national teams that will participate in the upcoming Commonwealth Games hockey tournaments scheduled from 29 July to 8 August at the University of Birmingham, England: Women: Australia, Canada, England, Ghana, India, Kenya, New Zealand, Scotland, South Africa, Wales Men: Australia, Canada, England, Ghana, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland, South Africa, Wales The competition schedule is available here. The detailed match schedule will be released soon. FIH CEO Thierry Weil said: “With such an impressive line-up, we’re looking forward, together with fans around the world, to hockey tournaments which will once again belong to the greatest events to enjoy at the upcoming Commonwealth Games. On behalf of FIH, I’d like to thank the Commonwealth Games Federation for their intense preparations as well as their support. And I wish already all teams every success in Birmingham!” CGF CEO Katie Sadleir said: “We are delighted that 20 outstanding teams have confirmed their spots for the Birmingham 2022 hockey tournament. We have an incredible line up for both the men’s and women’s competition and hockey fans across the Commonwealth are set to see a truly world class competition in Birmingham. I would like to thank the International Hockey Federation for their ongoing support and we look forward to working closely with them and Birmingham 2022 to stage a tournament that will showcase the very best of Commonwealth sport.” Hockey has been part of the Commonwealth Games since 1998. Australian Men have won all six editions! In the Women’s tournament, Australia is also leading the all-time records with 4 Gold medals, followed by India and New Zealand (1 each), with the Black Sticks winning the last Commonwealth Games hockey tournament in 2018 in The Gold Coast, Australia. Matt Kidson, Director of Sport for Birmingham 2022, said: “It’s great news that we now know all of the hockey teams that will be taking part in Birmingham 2022. We are currently finalising the match schedule for the men’s and women’s tournaments, and we are looking forward to unveiling this information very soon. “The University of Birmingham will be an excellent venue for hockey and a new pitch has just been installed at our training venue at Wyndley Leisure Centre, so we will have world-class facilities available for all of the teams.” Tickets for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games are currently available at birmingham2022.com. Ticket sales for hockey have been strong, and with three matches taking place on some of the early days of the tournament, there’s a great chance for hockey fans to have a fantastic day out at the Games. For more information about FIH and hockey in general, please download the Watch.Hockey app or follow the FIH social media channels – Facebook, Instagram and Twitter – and website. #Birmingham2022 #HockeyInvites