The Pan American Hockey Federation (PAHF) held its biannual Congress in Santo Domingo on August 11, 2003. At a meeting prior to the congress, the PAHF Board approved Astroturf as a sponsor of the PAHF "This is a great opportunity for the PAHF to partner with a premier supplier of artificial turf. We encourage all the member nations of the PAHF to work with Astroturf as they develop playing facilities for the players in the Americas" said Tony von Ondarza, President of PAHF.

Other decisions made by the Board were that the Junior Pan American Tournaments will be held in early 2005. The junior tournaments are the qualification events for the FIH Junior World Cups to be held later in 2005.

THE PAHF Officers and Board also formally thanked the Dominican Republic Hockey Association for all their hard work in organizing the Pan American Hockey competitions and pledged their support for the further development of hockey in the Dominican Republic.

The president of the International Hockey Federation, Els van Breda Vriesman attended the congress held on August 11, 2003. The congress approved new member nations, Brazil and the Dominican Republic as members of PAHF. Elections for the PAHF Board took place at the congress. Re- elected were Sue Neill (CAN) as Secretary and Rosa de Massa (ARG) as Vice President. Board members elected Joop Alberts (CHI), J. Gonzalez Cortina (CUB), Maureen Craig-Rousseau (TRI) and Carlos Hernandez (MEX)

The next Pan American Congress will be held in 2005 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

For more information about the Pan American Games field hockey competition, please visit the Pan American Hockey Federation web site.

The Pan American Hockey Federation (PAHF) is recognized by the FIH as the governing continental federation for all field hockey in the Pan American region. There are 21 member Nations of the PAHF. For more information please contact info@panamhockey.org.