(Photo: (C) PHOTOclic)

Leandro Negre is the new President of the International Hockey Federation (FIH). The former European Hockey Federation President from Spain was elected during the FIH Congress in Los Angeles, USA on Saturday for a four years term. Negre received more votes that his opponent Els van Breda Vriesman, Netherlands who has been the FIH President since 2001. A total of 89 National Associations were present at the FIH Congress.

Negre, who participated at the 1968 Olympic Games, was delighted with the result ‘I am very happy to be elected and I would like to thank the National Associations for voting for me’, Negre said.

During the FIH Congress, the FIH welcomed five new National Associations: Mongolia, Qatar, Togo, Vanuatu and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. With these new National Associations, the number of FIH Member Countries increased to 127.

Besides the election of Leandro Negre as President, Annabel Dillon (SIN) was re-elected as Vice President. Furthermore, Anne Ellis (WAL), Renita Garard (AUS), Sue Neill (CAN) were re-elected as FIH Executive Board Member, while Stephan Abel (GER) and Jan Albers (NED) were elected as new FIH Executive Board Members. Outgoing Executive Board Members Rosa de Massa (ARG) and Wolfgang Rommel (GER) received the award as FIH Member of Honor.