Three key organizations have made a commitment to work together to develop hockey in Brazil in the lead-up to the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. A Memorandum of Understanding, previously signed by Brazilian Hockey Confederation Sydnei Rocha in Rio, was also signed by Brazilian Olympic Committee President, Dr Carlos Nuzman and FIH President Leandro Negre during the SportAccord meeting in London on April 5, 2011.
Through the MOU, all parties agree that the hosting of the Olympic Games in Rio presents an ideal opportunity to develop hockey in Brazil and that it is in the best interests of Brazilian hockey and the sport worldwide if there are two Brazilian teams in the Olympics in 2016. For the most part, the activites outlined in the MOU are directed towards helping to develop the high performance system in Brazil and raise the calibre of play of Brazil's top level players such that Brazilian teams can participate and field a competitive squad in the 2016 Games.
Key among the activities of the MOU is an agreement to hire a top level High Performance Director who will develop and co-ordinate the various elements of the high performance system as well as work with Brazilian coaches and athletes. On the developmental side, the FIH has made a commitment to seek much-needed donations of sticks, balls and goal-keeping from sponsors over a two year period.
'The focus of the project will be on improving the Brazilian national teams so they will be able to qualify and compete with the rest of the field at the 2016 Olympics,' said FIH President Leandro Negre. 'But beyond 2016, we want to leave a stronger hockey legacy in Brazil and help develop the sport from the grass roots level.'
The FIH has already started looking for the high performance director. The application deadline is at the end of this week. For more information on that position, click here.
Source: FIH web site
