FIH CHIEFS MEET AT LORDS by Bill Colwill

As England and their travelling fans are departing down under for the long awaited Ashes series, Lords - the home of cricket - will be opening its gates to representatives from the world of hockey. The International Hockey Federation (FIH), the world governing body, will be holding its biennial Congress in London at Cricket’s headquarters on Saturday 11 November. More than 80 countries affiliated to the FIH are expected to attend.

At present, there are 117 national association members of the FIH. This number will probably increase after the London Congress, based on a recommendation of the Executive Board the Congress delegates will be asked to approve five new member associations. Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Ecuador and Estonia have sent their applications and are expected to be endorsed.

Beside the Congress, more FIH activities are scheduled in London all week. This evening (Monday 6 November) the Glasgow Bid Committee for the 2014 Commonwealth Games will be holding a reception for guests in the Long Room at Lords. The day before the Congress, the FIH WorldHockey Forum “Synergy for Success” will take place in the Nursery Pavilion whilst over both days an exhibition by FIH partners and suppliers will be on view for delegates in the Pavilion.

During the week FIH Office Bearers, the FIH Executive Board and all FIH Committees will meet in London prior to the Congress.

The hockey family is no stranger to Cricket’s home. In 1967, games in the Mexico pre Olympic Tournament were held at Lords along with the Oval and throughout the seventies, numerous International games and the annual Varsity match were played on the hallowed-turf.