On his way to the Opening Ceremony of the Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver, FIH President Leandro Negre stopped in Toronto to meet with representatives of Field Hockey Canada. In the morning, Mr. Negre participated in a work session with FHC President Mary Cicinelli, Board Director Hari Kant, Senior Staff Member Karen O'Neill, as well as Canadian members of FIH and PAHF boards and committees from the Toronto area.
Mr. Leandro Negre detailed the FIH strategic directions and priorities, Mary Cicinelli presented the situation, challenges and strategic directions of the Canadian national association, then both parties explored partnership opportunities, more specifically for hosting of FIH competitions.
In the afternoon, Mr. Negre and the FHC representatives met with Professor David Naylor, President, University of Toronto, Dr. Bruce Kidd, Dean of the Faculty of Physical Education and Health, and with Mr. Roger Garland, Chair of the 2015 Pan American Games Organizing Committee. The University of Toronto will be the venue for the competitions of hockey of the 2015 Games, and the Organizing Committee presented their plan to build a facility, with two top quality synthetic pitches, within the University campus.
This plan to have a world class facility dedicated to hockey in the heart of the city of Toronto is exciting news for hockey in Canada considering the acute lack of hockey pitches in the eastern part of the country. FHC and the University of Toronto will work in close cooperation to ensure that the facility is operational ahead of the 2015 Games and will stay as a lasting legacy for the field community. The university will offer access and support from its broad range of sport science, research and leadership programs.
Aside from his Olympic activities in Vancouver, Mr. Leandro Negre met with members of the vibrant local field hockey community.
Source: Field Hockey Canada
