Stress on scrutiny of game as an Olympic sport

By S.Thyagarajan

PARIS, NOV. 26. A comprehensive scrutiny of hockey as an Olympic sport and the urgency to review, revitalise and reestablish its ethos as an enchanting sport remaining within the ambit of amateurism in the Olympic Movement were the themes that were on debate during the week-long meetings of the International Hockey Federation and the Congress, which concluded at Sofitel here on Sataurday. Discussed at length and in some depth were the stragetic means and modes to confront the challenges from other disciplines threatening to get a space in the Olympic agenda sometime around 2008.

It is true that there is no immediate threat to competitive hockey at the Olympics but the cause for alarm sometime in 2008 is genuine. More and more disciplines are clamouring for an Olympic status-golf for instance-and some have already achieved it, like, triathlon, reckoned a huge success in Sydney 2000, both from the spectators' and television coverage points of view. Quite predictably, every committee and the Congress focussed on giving the game a new image and identity without losing its unique character. There was convergence that time is precious and should not be lost in fashioning fresh inputs to keeping the interest not only alive but to enhance quality and quantity in all continents.

Document released

Reflecting these concerns was the Open Forum on Friday during which the document ``Hockey vision 2000 and beyond'' and ``Year of the Youth Programmes'' were launched at a gala function. Outlining the stategic areas for development, marketing and globalising, the document deals with various areas of the sport. Dwelling on the importance of the future vision, Mr. Juan Angel Calzado, President, FIH, called upon the members to work for a new goal and make the game energised for the future.

Describing the guidelines as a ``living document'' for the next five years with enhanced inputs every two years, Mr. Hans Bertels, Executive Director, FIH, projected the strategic priorities and pinpointed the enormous resources earmarked for the success of the programmes.

Impeccably conceived and executed, bordering on a spectacle, was the launch of the Year of the Youth (YotY). The scheme, the highligts of which were introduced to the audience by Mr.Theo Ykema, Chairman, Development and Coaching Committee, underlines the message to impress on the youth of the world the charm, craft and the art and graces of hockey as a sport, free from drugs and other infirmities of professionalism plauging other disciplines.

An audo-visual show focussed on the means and methods to spreading the Year of the Youth to a state of festivals, and the continental representatives nomimated to co-ordinate the projects gave glimpses of their approach to the programmes worked out.

The project was developed and worked upon by a team headed by Projects manager, Ms.Gabrielle van Doorn of the Netherlands. Undeniably, the piece de resistance of this presentation was the theme song by Fatima Morerira De Melo and penned by Jeremy Baker.

The Q & A forum to the top brass of the FIH and conducted with elan by the well-known TV commentator and passionate devotee of hockey, David Christison of Australia, dwelt on the question of sponsorship, changes in rules and the need to captivating the television audience. It was lively programme, enlivined by the impresario, David Christison.

Earlier this week, the committee meetings, though somewhat prosaic, mirrored the concern to make the sport more vibrant. The Competitions Committee drew up a long list schedules nominating men and women to executive them.

Britain's Roger Self was nominated as the Tournament Director for the World Cup qualifying tournament at Edinburgh in July. The Committee decided on the teams for the Qualifier and endorsed the entry of Bangladesh into the competition although there was strong lobbying by New Zealand men for the spot. It also finalised the quota from each continent for the Junior World Cup to be held at Hobart in November this year. Only three countries from Asia, Korea (the winner), India (runner-up), and Malaysia made the grade. The case of Japan as the fourth team was not accepted. Pakistan, it may be pointed out, finished fifth in the Asia Cup qualifying event at Kuala Lumpur this year. Mr.Munneer Sait and Ms.Arnawaz Damania, the two Indian members in the committee attended the two-day meeting.

The Rules Committee and the Advisory Board met to review and renew the new formulations that are to be experimented. Former Olympian and captain, Pargat Singh, and Ms.Amrit Bose, Secretary, Indian Women Hockey Federation, participated in the meeting as did Mr.K.Jothikumaran, Secretary, Indian Hockey Federation, in the Development and Coaching Committee, which was responsible for working out on a video tape and CD on the ambitious Year of the Youthy 2001 programmes.

Urging the FIH the expedite the appointment of a Communications Manager and taking note of the decison to nominate an Event Manager for marketing the sport, the Media and Public Relations Committee headed by Britain's David Burt, discussed the value of e-communications among the member countries and committees, the norms to be framed for enlising the support of dot.coms during competitions and the value of creating a large data base on the FIH website on players, administrators and officials for the media. It also debated on the guidelines to the selection of the Players of the year awards.

Stephan Veen of the Netherlands and Alyson Annan of Australia were voted as the Players of the Year and the trophies were presented at the official dinner hosted by the French Hockey Association. A video clip of all the nominees was played on the screen before the winners were announced amidst spontaneous cheers. Mr.Calzado, President, FIH, presented the awards. Both Veen and Alsyon had won the same award in 1998 and the trophies were presented at the 75th anniversary of the FIH in Alexandria. Also honoured on Friday with the Order of Merit were Robert Lyke, Treasurer, FIH, Leandro Negre of Spain and Ms.Brenda Reide of Britain.

The official dinner also coincided with the 80th anniversary celebrations of the Federation Francaise de Hockey (French Hockey Federation). Mr. Georges Causse, President, FHF, which includes many distinguished members who served the FIH, like the former Presidents, Paul Leauty and Etienne Glichitch, pointed out the role of France in the development of hockey and for the opportunity given to the fraternity to host the first congress of this millennium. A huge cake resembling a hockey field with all the markings, players and umpires on it was cut on the occasion to celebrate the anniversary.

Mr.K.P.S.Gill and Mr.K.Jothikumaran, President and Secretary, respectively of the IHF, attended the Congress. It was revealed that a merger of the Indian men and women federations had been effected and will be operative from December 1 under the new umbrella titled as Indian Hockey Confederation.

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