The Executive Board of the International Hockey Federation (FIH) said farewell to the Executive Director Hans Bertels, who officially retires on 31 March 2008. During the meetings, which took place in Lausanne, Switzerland on 27, 28 and 29 March, the FIH Executive Board welcomed the new Director General Christophe Troendle, who attended most part of the meetings. Troendle will officially start on Monday 5 May 2008 at the FIH Headquarters.

The following important issues for the future of hockey were discussed during the Executive Board meeting:

  • The women’s BDO World Cup 2010 will be played in Buenos Aires, Argentina at the Gymnastic and Fencing Club (GEBA). The exact dates for this event will be confirmed at a later stage, but the event will take place in the first part of September 2010
  • The men’s Junior World Cup 2009 will be played with 20 instead of 16 teams. The tournament will be held in Johor Bahru, Malaysia and Singapore and will be co-hosted by both National Associations. The events will take place from 7 until 21 June 2009. The women’s BDO Junior World Cup will be played with 16 teams in Boston, USA from 4 until 16 August 2009.
  • The Executive Board approved the age-limit for the hockey tournament at the 2010 Youth Olympic Games in Singapore. Players to participate in this event should be 16 or 17 years old. Six boys’ and six girls’ teams will participate at the hockey tournament of the 2010 Youth Olympic Games.
  • The final decision to host the new FIH World Level event (World League) early 2009 most probably in one of the Gulf States will be made in April.
  • A special festivity program to celebrate 100 years of Hockey at the Olympic Games is in preparation. The 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, Chine will mark the milestone of 100 Years of Hockey as an Olympic Sport.
  • The Executive Board approved the schedule of the 2008 FIH Statutory Congress (29 November), WorldHockey Forum (28 November) and Executive Board and Committee meetings (22-27 November) in Los Angeles, USA.

The next meeting of the FIH Executive Board will take place during the Olympic Games in Beijing in August 2008.