17 Mar, 2025 Lausanne, Switzerland: The Executive Board (EB) of the International Hockey Federation (FIH) held its first meeting of the year on 14 and 15 March at the FIH office in Lausanne, Switzerland, under the chairmanship of FIH President Tayyab Ikram who opened the meeting with congratulatory words to the EB members and the National Associations (NAs) for a very successful 2024. Indeed, this quite exceptional year included the Centenary of FIH, the Paris 2024 Olympics, the very first FIH Hockey5s World Cup, the 49th FIH Congress, the NA Summits as well as numerous development activities and other events organized by hockey’s world governing body. The success of the Paris 2024 Olympic tournaments was specifically underlined by IOC President Thomas Bach himself to President Ikram during their personal interaction held last week at the Olympic House in Lausanne. The meeting continued with a detailed review of the preparations for the next edition of the FIH Hockey World Cup for Women and Men that will be hosted by Belgium and the Netherlands in 2026. A delegation from the co-hosts met with the FIH Team at the FIH office last week to discuss the main strategic and operational topics of the event. The EB members also looked back with a lot of satisfaction at the recently completed FIH events. The FIH Hockey Pro League has just reached its “half-time” with all teams having played their first eight matches during exciting stages held in Argentina, Australia, China, India and the Netherlands. The season will resume in June. The FIH Indoor Hockey World Cup held in Poreč, Croatia, was the first FIH event to be played in 2025. Croatia were hosting their first-ever FIH World Cup and it was a true success. Then, the inaugural edition of the FIH Hockey Men’s Nations Cup 2 was played in Oman. This new event, enabling teams ranked after the Nations Cup teams to play a high-level global tournament and, for the winning team, to be promoted into the Nations Cup, confirmed how much the decision to create it was right. Last but not least in this intense month of February for international hockey, the third edition of the FIH Hockey Women’s Nations Cup was played in Chile. Another excellent event, with a vibrant crowd creating an unforgettable atmosphere and experience for all athletes. Detailed updates were given to the Board about the upcoming events, namely the FIH Hockey Men’s Nations Cup Malaysia 2024-25 (Kuala Lumpur, 15-21 June), the FIH Hockey Women’s Nations Cup 2 Poland 2024-25 (Walcz, 16-22 June), the FIH Hockey Women’s Junior World Cup Chile 2025 (Santiago, 1-13 December) and the FIH Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup that will be played in the cities of Chennai and Madurai, India, from 28 November to 10 December 2025. In terms of hockey development, the latest information about the FIH Empowerment and Engagement Strategy was shared, including the development grants for National Associations (NAs), as approved by the Empowerment & Engagement Committee. Grants were awarded to NAs from all five continents. They focus on a diverse range of development projects, including school hockey initiatives, national team training and competition, education for coaches, umpires and technical officials, as well as women empowerment projects. Also, an extensive application and evaluation process for NAs to benefit from a Hockey5s court has been launched. The EB welcomed ASOIF and FEI President Ingmar de Vos as well as IOC Sports Director Kit McConnell, who’s recently been appointed as Brisbane 2032 Chief Sport Officer. It was a great interaction with key members of the Olympic movement. The FIH President thanked them for their guidance and support, and reminded how essential it is for hockey to be a strong and active member of the Olympic movement, precisely. Concluding the meeting, FIH President Tayyab Ikram said: “I’m particularly pleased with the way the meeting went, the information shared and the spirit that prevails within this Executive Board, with everyone contributing to making our organisation and our sport every day better and bigger. I’d like to extend special thanks to Ingmar de Vos and Kit McConnell for visiting us and providing their support to the development and success of hockey. 2024 was a very successful year for hockey. This is very encouraging and a great motivation to pursue our relentless efforts to grow the game.” The next EB meeting will be held in Amsterdam, Netherlands, on 13-14 June. 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. #MadeForHockey

07 Mar, 2025 International Women’s Day serves as a powerful reminder of the need to accelerate action to ensure that all women have equal access to sport. FIH President Tayyab Ikram said: “Hockey can pride itself to be a gender equal sport as the overall participation worldwide – 51% women, 49% men – shows. However, we are determined to intensify our commitments towards diversity and inclusion. Gender equality efforts are, more than ever, a strategic priority for the FIH”. One of the challenges for gender equality in sports often emerges early in life, with body image concerns preventing many teenage girls from fully participating and enjoying sports. These insecurities are often fueled by harmful gender stereotypes, unrealistic beauty and athletic standards, uncomfortable or overly revealing uniforms, and criticism of their appearance or performance. As a result, many girls lose interest or feel discouraged from continuing in sports. Research shows that body image concerns lead half of teenage girls to quit sports altogether. Tackling this issue requires a collective effort to increase awareness and implement meaningful solutions. Coaches, in particular, play a vital role in shaping young athletes’ experiences and helping them build confidence in their abilities. The role of Coaches in inspiring confidence Ireland’s national team captain Sarah Hawkshaw shared her personal experience: “It was the mother of two of our players who was my first coach—she really believed in me,” said Hawkshaw. “When I first started playing hockey, I didn’t believe in myself, but she pushed me to back myself and inspired me to keep going. I’d be lying if I said I never struggled with body confidence in school. Growing up, there are perceptions about how an athlete should look. Ironically, sport was what gave me confidence, even though body image concerns can often deter girls from participating. Having a supportive group around me that reminded me how strong our bodies are—and how much confidence we gain through sport—kept me going. My advice for girls is that it doesn’t matter what you look like; no matter how you’re involved in sports, what you get out of it is invaluable and will take you far in life.” Manuela Urroz, captain of the Chilean national team, echoed this sentiment: “Many coaches have inspired me, but if I had to choose one, it would be Sergio Vigil. He led us through an eight-year process where we learned so much—not only about hockey but also about life. His impact has been profound, not just on Las Diablas but on Chilean hockey as a whole.” New Zealand’s captain Olivia Shannon also reflected on the coaches who shaped her career: “Two coaches have inspired me the most. Shea McAleese had a massive impact on my hockey career—pushing me, helping me understand the game, the culture, and the mindset needed to succeed. Having a coach like that is incredibly important. I also had a female coach who taught me so much about team culture, environment, and inclusiveness, which has been invaluable in my journey.” A global initiative for change FIH, in collaboration with Laureus Sport for Good and Nike, is supporting the Body Confident Sport Program—a global initiative designed to prevent girls from dropping out of sport due to body image concerns. The program aims to help girls and young people of all gender identities feel more comfortable being active and participating in sports. Since its launch, the program has been shared worldwide, raising awareness and positively impacting thousands of coaches and players. FIH remains committed to continuing this vital work—raising awareness and implementing solutions to ensure every girl feels confident and empowered in sport. Scotland’s captain Sarah Jamieson shared her experience: “I’ve personally struggled with my own body. I’ve played a lot of hockey and other sports, so my legs were stronger and bigger than those of other girls at school. But my advice is to focus on what your body can do, not how it looks. My legs have brought me here—they are strong, and they are fast. Try not to compare yourself to others and instead focus on what your body is capable of.” Scotland’s Head Coach Chris Duncan said: “The most important thing is to build trust and strong relationships between coaches and athletes so we can have open and honest conversations. All the changes that happen in the female body during the teenage years are natural, and we need to create an environment where it’s okay to talk about them. There is definitely a challenge for male coaches working in this space because these topics have been considered taboo for so long. However, as an organization, we are working hard to break down those barriers and encourage open discussions. The advice I would give is to always be eager to learn. As coaches and athletes, we are on this journey together. We need to understand how we can provide the right support and, most importantly, ask athletes what kind of support they need. Over time, this builds trust and strengthens the conversations we have. At the end of the day, our job as coaches is to support the players in the best way possible.” South African Michelle Joubert, also emphasized: “It is important to focus on skill development and overall well-being rather than just body shaping, as the true reason people participate in sports goes beyond physical appearance. Sports contribute significantly to mental health, helping individuals manage pressure and stress. There are numerous benefits beyond just concerns about body image. Through education and workshops, women can learn that sports are about development, not just physical appearance. I always say: ‘Healthy mind, healthy body’—and it works both ways. I believe the issue lies in a lack of education and awareness; we must recognize that everyone is different. As long as you can perform, that’s what truly matters. Learning to love yourself is key.” Yoki Sakamoto, Director General of the Japanese Hockey Association said: “Our senior women’s team, Sakura Japan, has successfully participated in six consecutive Olympic Games. However, we are

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