International Hockey Federation facts for kids
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| Abbreviation | FIH |
|---|---|
| Formation | 7 January 1924 |
| Founded at | Paris, France |
| Type | Sports federation |
| Legal status | Governing body of: Field hockey Indoor hockey Hockey5s Beach hockey |
| Purpose | Sport governance |
| Headquarters | Lausanne, Switzerland |
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Region served
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Worldwide |
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Membership
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140 national associations |
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Official language
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English, French |
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President
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Tayyab Ikram |
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CEO
|
Thierry Weil |
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Main organ
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Congress |
| Affiliations | International Olympic Committee |
The International Hockey Federation, known as FIH, is the main group that runs field hockey and indoor field hockey around the world. Its main office is in Lausanne, Switzerland. The FIH organizes the biggest international hockey events, like the Hockey World Cup.
Contents
History of the FIH
How the FIH Started
The FIH was created on January 7, 1924, in Paris, France. Paul Léautey was its first president. This happened because field hockey was not included in the 1924 Summer Olympics. The first countries to join were Austria, Belgium, Czechoslovakia, France, Hungary, Spain, and Switzerland.
Growing Together
In 1982, the FIH joined forces with the International Federation of Women's Hockey Associations (IFWHA). The IFWHA had started in 1927. This merger brought men's and women's hockey under one big organization.
New Headquarters
The organization moved its main office to Lausanne, Switzerland, in 2005. Before that, it was located in Brussels, Belgium.
Recent Decisions
In 2022, due to a global conflict, the FIH made a decision. They banned teams and officials from Russia and Belarus from taking part in FIH events. This included the 2022 Women's FIH Hockey Junior World Cup.
How the FIH is Organized
The FIH has 140 member countries that play hockey. These countries are part of five larger groups called confederations. These groups help manage hockey in different parts of the world. For example, Great Britain is a member, and its team plays in the Olympics. England, Scotland, and Wales also have their own teams in some FIH events.
The five main confederations are:
- AfHF – For Africa
- AHF – For Asia
- EHF – For Europe
- OHF – For Oceania (like Australia and New Zealand)
- PAHF – For North and South America
The FIH also keeps track of FIH World Rankings. These rankings are updated after big tournaments.
Leaders of the FIH
The FIH has had many presidents over the years. These leaders help guide the sport of hockey worldwide. The current president is Tayyab Ikram.
FIH Awards
The FIH Awards are given out every year since 1998. They honor the best male and female players. Awards for young players were added in 2001. The FIH also gives special honorary awards. These awards recognize people who have done amazing things for field hockey.
Major Hockey Tournaments
The FIH organizes many exciting tournaments for different types of hockey.
Field Hockey Tournaments
- Olympic Games: This is the biggest sports event in the world.
- World Cup and World Cup: These are the top tournaments for national teams.
- Pro League and Pro League: A yearly league where top teams play each other.
- Nations Cup and Nations Cup: Another important tournament for national teams.
- Junior World Cup and Junior World Cup: For players under 21 years old.
- Youth Olympic Games: For young athletes.
Indoor Hockey Tournaments
- Indoor Hockey World Cup and Indoor Hockey World Cup: The main world championship for indoor hockey.
Hockey5s Tournaments
- Hockey5s World Cup and Hockey5s World Cup: A faster, shorter version of hockey played with five players per side.
Partners of the FIH
The International Hockey Federation works with different partners. These partners help support the sport. One of their partners is Hero MotoCorp.
See also
In Spanish: Federación Internacional de Hockey para niños
- FIH World Rankings
- Hockey Rules Board
- History of field hockey
