The Hindu : Sport : 2010 World Cup will be held in India, says Leandro Negre

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2010 World Cup will be held in India, says Leandro Negre

S. Thyagarajan

Leandro Negre.

Chennai: Leandro Negre, who took charge as President of the International Hockey Federation last month, is confident of India staging the next World Cup in New Delhi. He, however, states with a touch caution that the administration will monitor closely the developments “carefully to make sure that the event will be organised at the highest possible level and we will have a close look on the political situation.”

The 62-year-old Spaniard also asserts that the Special India Project will be continued, and supports the takeover of the IHF by the National Olympic Committee… excerpts of the exclusive mail interview to The Hindu.

Q: Sitting in your chair now as President, how do you view the hockey scene across the globe?

A: Hockey is a fantastic sport. It is a great honour for me to be the President of the FIH. Hockey is a fast growing sport. During the last few years, hockey really moved forward. Under my leadership I will do everything to make the sport even better.

Q: As a new incumbent you will be having a vision. What is it? What is the priority in your agenda?

A: I would like to make clear that Els van Breda Vriesman did an excellent job. She really moved hockey forward. My long term goals will be a combination between what the FIH is doing well at this moment and the projects I presented in my election campaign. The ultimate goal is to make the sport of hockey even stronger than it is now. I would like to have a close look on the way the FIH Executive Board is functioning. Until my election, the Executive Board only met twice a year. I would like to change their role giving the Executive Board more responsibility and therefore more meetings a year are necessary.

The Executive Board of the FIH has to work as a team, being the President, a trendsetter and a facilitator, so that Executive Board members find in him a true partner to carry on projects and mandates. The Executive Board needs to lead in a manner that FIH staff and FIH Committee’s members find in it the strongest possible sounding board. Hockey is in continuous grow, and becomes more complex every day, and that is why when FIH professionals and committee’s members look up for guidance, they need to find a strong team.

My key priorities are the following: A new approach on Leadership and Governance. The FIH has to open its doors and its mind, to debate and discussion of a new role of Continental Federations within the FIH which will enable us to be strong and close to real hockey, a new competitions structure and calendar and a strong development programme for everybody.

Q: You have campaigned on the issue of giving greater role to continental federations. What are the issues that you want to address? What exactly was lacking?

A: The FIH and the Continental Federations will have to work together in defining the standard of hockey development in each continent, and bring forth a development protocol for each of them. One protocol for each continent or region of interest, that identifies needs and sets actions. One protocol that acknowledges the differences within regions and that ensures high standards of coaching worldwide. In my opinion, the Continental Federations didn’t have this important role in the past.

Q: Again, you spoke of change in Champions Trophy. What do you propose to do to revamp it? If so, what will be the new format?

A: The Champions Trophy is after the World Cup, the most important event. In my opinion, it should keep that status. In order to make the Champions Trophy even better, adjustments will probably be necessary. Examples are a better date on the calendar, and adding two more teams to the events. But before making any change, we will have discussions in the Executive Board.

Q: You said there need be no fear over hockey being shunted out of Olympics? What makes you feel that the sport will be there in 2016 regardless of Els or FIH President being part of the IOC?

A: Being present at the Olympic Games is still the most important task for hockey. The FIH Mission’s Statement (To encourage, promote, develop and administer hockey at all levels in order to maintain hockey as an Olympic sport on the Olympic Programme and maximise participation, standards, enjoyment and community involvement) clear about that. To make sure that this will happen, the FIH should professionalize its world level events, and this is one of the main tasks in the coming years.

In my opinion, hockey is not in danger of being withdrawn from the Olympic programme — certainly in no more danger than any other summer Olympic sport. One hundred years of uninterrupted presence will not fall down by the result of this election. Hockey is too strong for this to happen. The IOC will not overlook the values that our sport brings to the Olympic Movement.

Q: Coming to India, what’s you perception of India’s hockey structure? Does it need the assistance of IOC-FIH Special Project? Will it be continued after the disastrous results so far... Ric Charlesworth, for instance.

A: India is one of the key nations for hockey. The FIH started the project ‘Promoting Indian Hockey’ in late 2006 and under my leadership this project will definitely not end.

Q: Do you agree with the idea of NOCs taking over administration of an Olympic discipline under the guise of maladministration, or failure to produce results? Rene Frank refused to recognise in 1975 the move by NOC take over of IHF... Now the NOC has taken charge of IHF under specific instructions from FIH... What’s your take on this?

A: The National Hockey Associations of member-countries are the members of the FIH. These Associations are not only working under the FIH, but they are also under the umbrella of their respective NOC. At the moment an NOC can assist the FIH dealing with a National Association. That’s what has happened in India and I completely support this.

Q: Finally, there is concern over World Cup in New Delhi... Will you be comfortable in dealing with an ad hoc committee whose creation itself by the NOC is disputed in a court of law...Nothing will be known till next February...

A: I am feeling very comfortable regarding the 2010 FIH World Cup in India. The FIH signed the memorandum of understanding for our showcase event in August this year. At this moment, the IOA is our partner in organising the World Cup, and I have the feeling that much progress has been made in the last few months.

Q: If there is some confusion here, is the FIH ready with another venue sufficiently prepared to host the biggest event under the FIH calendar?

A: At this stage, the 2010 men’s World Cup will take place in India. That’s why it is not necessary to have a look at another venue. However, the FIH will monitor the situation in India carefully to make sure that the event will be organised at the highest possible level as we will have a close look on the political situation in India too.

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