International Hockey Federation (FIH) President Leandro Negre was amongst the first people to personally congratulate Germany’s Thomas Bach following his election as President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Tuesday (10 September).
Mr Negre – who was present for the 125th IOC Session in Buenos Aires, Argentina – offered a warm and heart-felt handshake on behalf of the entire hockey family in recognition of Mr Bach’s elevation to the highest position in sport.
Mr Bach – an Olympic Gold medal-winning fencer from the 1976 Montreal Games – replaces Belgium’s Jacques Rogge, who stepped down after 12 successful years in charge. The 59-year-old will serve a term of at least eight years.
The new IOC President is very much a supporter of the sport of Hockey, having visited many major events hosted in Germany by the Deutsche Hockey Bund (DHB).
The FIH congratulates Thomas Bach on his election and wishes him every success over the next eight years.
