Trying to view the elections objectively, they were surely the most keenly contested and exciting ever. Never before has there been a tied first round and the attendance was the highest ever. For me the election process demonstrated the importance of the democratic process within the FIH, that the National Associations, our members, have the right of their vote and the desire to use it.

Aside from my appointment, I am delighted with the results of elections. We have a symmetry of experience among the members of the new Executive Board, an injection of youth and a balanced continental representation, particularly with Peter Cohen as the first non-European secretary general in FIH history. In 2001 and 2002 we have a busy calendar of international events. The appointments of Tony von Ondarza (VEN) and Pam Tye (AUS) as vice presidents will allow the workload to be shared.

The gathering of the new Executive Board on April 22^nd was the first meeting to be held within the context of the restructure. At our Congress in Paris in November 2000, we resolved to streamline the FIH management structure in order to increase efficiency in the decision making process. Whereas, previously, we had a two tiered management system of the Executive Board plus the FIH Council, this has been replaced, simply, with the new Executive Board.

Another important modification is the representation of all FIH Committee Chairpersons on the Executive Board. This will greatly improve communication and co-ordination throughout the FIH and speed the execution of Executive Board resolutions.

Uniquely the Executive Board welcomes its first athletes’ representative, Rechelle Hawkes from Australia. It was four years ago that the FIH recognised the need for the players’ input with the construction of the Athlete’s Panel, made up of former international-level hockey players. The new position on the Executive Board reinforces the FIH’s commitment to listen to the athletes at the highest decision-making level.

Another important development is the appointment of an Events Manager and I welcome Dennis Meredith to the FIH team.

So, the new Executive Board, charged with the responsibility of capitalising on this great opportunity in world hockey has 21 members, of whom nine are women. Unless other federations have also recently changed their structure, the FIH is now the most gender balanced of all the Olympic sports federations.

But the actions of an Executive Board are as much to do with attitudes as structure. It is our vision to encourage a direct connection and unity between the FIH and its primary ‘customers’, the national associations. Furthermore, it is my intention for the Executive Board to set the agenda, through a direct link with the national associations and to encourage an open, transparent decision-making system following free spirited discussion within the Executive Board.

Within the context of the Vision 2000 strategic plan, all board members have been asked to table, at the next board meeting, their proposed priorities for the next two years.

I believe we have given ourselves the best possible tools to do the job. It remains for me to say, on behalf of the new Executive Board, that we look forward to serving the hockey family and to making this new era an exciting and progressive one.

Els van Breda Vriesman

FIH President