The international hockey community has long embraced equality and made a strong commitment to treat everyone with dignity and respect, irrespective of all differences. That commitment towards equality and inclusiveness is honored and enshrined further by the International Hockey Federation (FIH) through the FIH Inclusion and Diversity Day, which was celebrated for the first time in 2022.
Today, 24 June 2023, we celebrate the second edition of the FIH Inclusion and Diversity Day and renew our commitment towards making hockey inclusive and accessible to all. At the start of the FIH Hockey Pro League matches today, the following statement is being read out by captains of the national squads, to further reinforce the spirit of this occasion:
Today is FIH Inclusion and Diversity Day.
No matter your gender …
No matter your ethnic background …
No matter your physical or intellectual abilities …
No matter your sexual orientation …
No matter your age …
… EVERYONE is welcome in hockey!
Diversity is wealth.
Inclusion must be the norm.
YOU, WE, EVERYONE are #HockeyEquals!
FIH President Tayyab Ikram has also conveyed the message to the global hockey family.
Marking this special occasion, FIH and Special Olympics also took to the pitch to pen an inaugural agreement between the two organizations, dedicated to the development of hockey for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), just as hockey made its first-ever appearance at Special Olympics World Games, as a demonstration sport with 12 countries from 4 continents participating.
The Memorandum of Understanding between the two organizations focuses on cooperation, development, and promotion of the sport around the world to create more opportunities for people with IDD to experience the social, emotional, and physical benefits of hockey.
