The International Hockey Federation (FIH) has long embraced equality with its iconic #equallyamazing hashtag and commitment by all members of the hockey community to treat everyone equally and with respect. That commitment towards equality and inclusiveness is now being celebrated with the first FIH Inclusion and Diversity Day.
Ahead of both the inaugural FIH Hockey5s competition in Lausanne on 4-5 June and before the FIH Hockey Pro League matches between England and Netherlands (men and women), Spain and South Africa (men), and Spain and China (women), the following statement has been read out by players of the national squads.
‘Today is the first Inclusion and Diversity Day of the International Hockey Federation.
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 is #HockeyEquals!’
And turning words into meaningful action, hockey is fulfilling its commitment to inclusivity with two Hockey ID events taking place during the FIH Hockey Women’s World Cup in the Netherlands and Spain from 1 July to 17 July.
In the Netherlands, the EuroHockey ID Championships will be taking place from 7-10 July with the pool stages being played at Pinoke Hockey Club before the competition moves into the Wagener Stadium for the finals.
There are three levels of competition within the Hockey ID Championships – Championship, Trophy and Challenge – and each are played as a round robin event, followed by finals. The Championships will be brought to an exciting finale in the same venue that just a few days later will see the Women’s World Cup winners being crowned. A medal ceremony and a celebratory dinner will cap four days of exciting hockey action.
Playing for the Championship are Italy, Germany, Netherlands and Portugal. The trophy will see belgium, France and a second Netherlands side battling for the top spot, while the Challenge will be between Czech Republic, England and Ireland.
Meanwhile, in Terrassa, the Spanish Hockey Federation is hosting an international clubs festival alongside the FIH Women’s World Cup, with teams from Spain, Belgium, England, Germany, Ireland, Netherlands and France. The teams will play a round robin competition before a finals day to determine the finishing positions.
With the Special Olympic World Games just a year away, these are all good opportunities for the athletes to experience international competition. Athletes from five international teams will be attending the Special Olympics Netherlands National Games in Twente on the 8-10 June. This will be a trial/warm up event one year before the Special Olympic World Games get underway in Berlin in 2023.
#HockeyEquals
