presidential
election in l.a.
on saturday 29 november 2008, the FiH presidential election took place dur-
ing the FiH congress in los angeles, Usa. els van Breda Vriesman (ned), FiH
president since 2001 lost the battle against FiH executive Board Member and
president of the european Hockey Federation (eHF) leandro negre (esp).
the winner!
slav Republic of Macedonia. With these new
National Associations, the number of FIH
Member Countries increased to 127.
WHAT HE STOOD FOR
A new role for Continental Federations.
‘One Hockey, one calendar.’
Nobody left behind.
The Olympic movement.

HE REPLACES
LEANDRO NEGRE
ELS VAN BREDA VRIESmAN
The 62 year old ex-hockey goalkeeper was
The 67 year old Dutch Master of Law
born in Barcelona, Spain. In 1984 he be-
rose to vice President of the FIH in 1992,
fih president
came President of the Royal Spanish Hockey
became Hon. Secretary General in 1994
Federation, and started eight years of
before making it to President in 2001.
modernising Spanish Hockey, which culmi-

nated with the gold medal at the women’s
WHAT CAN WE EXPECT?
Olympic tournament in Barcelona 1992; the
Negre was a popular choice and there is
biggest success in Spanish Hockey to date.
a weight of expectation aound him now.
Negre said afterwards: “I am very happy to be National Associations are keen to soo
elected and I would like to thank the National hockey reinvigorated and refreshed so
Associations for voting for me.” he will have to get to work immediately.
There is a strong desire for hockey to be
WHO VOTED?
more visible in the media and for world
Every country’s National Association had a
class tournaments to be respected more.
vote. 89 Associations attended the vote in
Negre worked wonders modernising
Los Angeles so both candidates were woo-
Spanish hockey and winning the Olympic
ing the attendees and trying to prove their
credentials for the job over the course of the
Games for Barcelona - this accomplish-
convention.
ment further increases the weight of
expectation on him. Good luck!
INCREASE IN ASSOCIATIONS
During the FIH Congress, the FIH welcomed
five new National Associations: Mongolia,
SPECIAL EXTENDED
Qatar, Togo, Vanuatu and the Former Yugo-
COVERAGE NEXT ISSUE
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