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FIH chief to visit India next month

S. Thyagarajan

To make personal study of progress related to hosting the World Cup
An added worry is the security environment

Chennai: Even as speculation is rife in the hockey community about the World Cup consequent to the change of guard last week, Leandro Negre, the new President of FIH, is chalking out a programme to visit Delhi during the first fortnight next month.

This is purely aimed at making a personal study of the progress related to hosting the premier hockey event in 2010. Quite understandably, the FIH is unable to formulate a plan based on the inputs by those charged with the conduct of the event, although it is joint venture between the FIH and the Indian Olympic Association, which is administering the sport through an ad hoc committee.

A section in the FIH is wondering whether it will pay dividends to do business till 2010 with an ad hoc body. An influential segment sees several loopholes likely to develop as time passes. One source privy to the thinking of the FIH President reveals that a clear picture will emerge only by March-April 2009.

Added worry

An added worry is the security environment in the continent that had contributed to shifting the Champions Trophy twice in recent years. Australia is known to be fussy about security concerns and withdraws its players at the first sign of alarm.

With those in FIH responsible for anchoring India as the destination of the World Cup being out of the administrative ambit, the foremost question relates to bringing new members to strengthen the FIH side to work on various aspects like sponsorship, marketing, accommodation etc.

A change of committees in the FIH is likely to be effected in February, and this may indicate the line of thinking on the issue by the top brass.

Mr. Negre is scheduled to visit the FIH headquarters in Lausanne this week to meet the staff and other officials to actually begin his reign.

There is, however, a view that since awarding the World Cup was a decision of the Executive Board, the contemplation of a change does not, or need not, arise at this juncture unless the circumstances become unavoidable. “At the moment, India is the place for the World Cup,” declared one of the top functionaries.

Question mark

Meanwhile, there is a question mark over the continuation of the Special India Project in co-ordination with the International Olympic Committee.

The offer of Bob Davidzon, the Project Director, to quit is a sign that there are different voices within the FIH over the issue. It is learnt that Mr. Negre expressed reservations over the exercise in the pre-Congress meetings at Los Angeles.

This probably forced Davidzon put in his papers. However, Davidzon is prepared to reconsider if the FIH is ready to go ahead with the project. He says the work regarding to framing the constitution of Hockey India is nearing completion.

Dissenting voice

A dissenting voice in the FIH believes the Special India Project was linked to the appointment of Ric Charlesworth. Since that issue developed into a lot of bitterness and acrimony, reviving the project in the changed circumstances needs to be thoroughly examined. If the current thinking in the higher echelons is anything to go by, the project getting back on rails looks slim.

Another fall-out as a result of the change in the FIH power structure and alignment is hockey going unrepresented in the International Olympic Committee.

Els van Breda Vriesman, who lost the race for the third term as President, cannot remain as member in the IOC Council. She has also moved out of the IOC Evaluation Committee for the 2016 Olympics and also from the Association of International Federations (ASOIF).

That interesting days are ahead for hockey, especially for those willing to see it from an Indian perspective, is no understatement.

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