On the eve of the 50th FIH Statutory Congress, delegates from across the global hockey community gathered for the Fit for the Future Forum, an initiative launched by FIH President Tayyab Ikram to reflect on the sport’s evolution and shape its future.

The Forum focused on two key priorities: presenting the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) Fit for the Future initiative and introducing Made For Hockey 2032+, the new strategic framework for global hockey set to be submitted to Congress tomorrow.

In his opening remarks at the start of the National Associations Forum, FIH President Tayyab Ikram said: “This Congress offers us an opportunity not only to celebrate what we have achieved, but also to set our course for the next chapter of our journey. The sporting landscape is evolving rapidly, and we must remain vigilant, adaptable and ambitious if we are to continue moving forward.

The Fit for the Future programme introduced by the International Olympic Committee and its President, Kirsty Coventry, is a timely and important call for us to reflect on where we stand as a global and Olympic sport, where we want to go, and what we must do to remain relevant, attractive and inspiring to future generations.

All hockey stakeholders, including our commercial partners, have just witnessed a fantastic World Cup, breaking records in viewership and social media engagement. These achievements demonstrate the growing appeal of our sport, and we should be proud of them. But are they enough? No. They are not a destination, but a starting point.

Above all, we must do more for our athletes, who are at the very heart of everything we do and our most important stakeholders. We must give them a stronger voice, create meaningful opportunities for them to express their views, and place their welfare at the centre of our decisions.

At the same time, we must work together to open new horizons for younger generations and strengthen hockey’s positive impact on society. Our sport has the power to bring people together, foster inclusion and mutual understanding, and contribute to peace. This is both our responsibility and our opportunity as a global sporting community.”

A plenary session featured a panel discussion, moderated by FIH Director General Mike Joyce, bringing together FIH President Tayyab Ikram, Hockey Australia President Sally Carbon, Dutch Hockey Association President Erik Klein Nagelvoort, South African Hockey Association President Deon Morgan, FIH Executive Board Member Maureen Craig-Rousseau and Chilean Hockey Association President Andrés de Witt. Discussions explored key challenges and opportunities for the sport, including making hockey more accessible, strengthening its appeal beyond its traditional community, enhancing the experiences of athletes and fans at events, and identifying new avenues for growth.

A second panel, moderated by Sport Group Head of Hockey Paul Kamphuis, examined how hockey has evolved over the past 50 years, since the introduction of artificial turf at the Montreal 1976 Olympic Games. The discussion involved FIH Executive Board Member Katrin Kauschke, FIH Executive Board Member and Athlete Committee Co-Chair Camila Caram, African Hockey Federation Vice-President Nii Quaye Kumah, Oman Hockey Association Technical Director Shakir Munir and Sport Group Marketing Director Richard Tattershaw.

Delegates also heard from Jonny Murch, CEO of sports marketing agency Redtorch, who delivered a presentation entitled “The World Has Moved”. Offering an independent, cross-sport perspective, his presentation examined the changing sporting landscape and the implications for hockey as it looks to remain relevant, accessible and appealing to future generations.

The programme also included a series of interactive workshops, giving National Associations the opportunity to exchange ideas and explore practical ways to advance the sport’s strategic priorities. Topics included putting athletes at the heart of hockey, growing and engaging the fanbase, elevating the hockey experience, empowering National Associations, amplifying the impact of the global hockey community, and expanding opportunities for people to play the game.

Through these discussions and exchanges, the Forum provided an opportunity for the global hockey community to reflect on the challenges ahead, share perspectives and help shape a common vision for hockey’s continued growth.

Upcoming schedule:

23 October:

24 October:

  • 50th FIH Statutory Congress
  • Post-Congress press conference (scheduled at 4pm local time)