The OHF Executive met in Wellington (NZ) in early March with Australia, Fiji, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea represented. Apologies were received from American Samoa and Western Samoa.

Arrangements were put in place to correct the arrears in OHF fees and ensure that member countries affiliate with FIH. Assistance will be provided when FIH fees are a barrier.

The FIH Development Funds available to national federations were promoted. Members were encouraged to seek the assistance of the OHF Development Consultant with applications in keeping with development plans.

Derek Wilshere (NZ) was elected unopposed to represent OHF on the new FIH Executive Board.

The decision was taken to establish an OHF website, using NZHF expertise. The Executive recognises that communication is not yet of an acceptable standard within the federation.

The Executive hopes to hold its next meeting in Fiji.

The report on spectator support at the Sydney Olympic Games revealed that hockey was the second best attended sport at Homebush, behind track and field, with 92% of seating occupied through-out the tournament. That represents a fraction under half a million spectators in total.

Huge numbers of non-hockey people saw the game of hockey and, with the performances of the two Australian teams and that of the New Zealand women, should greatly assist the development of the sport in Oceania.

The subsequent exclusion of the New Zealand men’s team from the 2002 World Cup qualifier will retard development plans. New Zealand decided to go to the Court of Arbitration for Sport over the matter but subsequentely came to agreements with the FIH (See Page XX).

In contrast, OCF took encouragement from the late inclusion of a second Oceania team in the Women’s Junior World Cup.

The inaugural Sydney Youth Olympic Festival, a multi-sport event which involved under 18 hockey teams from Australian states, proved successful. This event has been identified as a good development opportunity for Oceania teams and the idea is to be pursued.

The lst. Oceania Islands Challenge, for senior teams, has been held in Brisbane while it was noted that Fiji competed with good results in the Arafura Games in Darwin late last year.

The appointment of a Continental Development Consultant and Year of the Youth Co-ordinator has proved a turning point in OHF development.

Papua New Guinea and Samoa have restructured, with new constitutions; regular competition has resumed in Samoa; while Tonga has commenced a hockey programme.

There is frustration that the development programme in Fiji has been stalled by the delay in the FIH pitch installation. The Mentor programme, agreed upon for Suva, has not really taken off. The OHF will now try to ensure the participation target is achieved for the 2003 South Pacific Games.

The political situation in Fiji could not have come at a worse time for the development of hockey there and the patience and understanding of FIH in maintaining support is appreciated.

There are now good signs that Fiji is emerging from its political problems. We are advised that a contract has been negotiated for the design and construction of the Aquatic, Indoor and Hockey stadia, in compliance with the requirements of the respective sports. The contract will ensure completion of the venues for the South Pacific Games.

The focus of activity in Australia, since the Sydney Olympics, has been upon the amalgamation undertaken last year. The Board of Hockey Australia has wasted no time in completing the strategic planning process. Office location and staffing have now been settled.

Successful 2001 National League seasons saw New South Wales teams completing a double. Both final series received C7 cable television coverage, the women’s matches live, the men’s via delayed telecast.

In both competitions, common regulations applied which included an experimental rule aimed at uncluttering deep defence and increasing action within the scoring circles.