Lausanne, Switzerland: The International Hockey Federation is delighted to announce that it has signed a four-year partnership with Nike. The partnership includes Nike delivering equipment to officials and umpires, as seen at the recent FIH Hockey Junior World Cups and the first FIH Hockey Pro League mini-tournament of the season.
Nike and FIH share the common goal of developing youth sport and getting more kids moving. Globally, only 1 in 5 kids gets the physical activity they need to thrive, and girls are moving the least. With more than 75% of all registered hockey players around the world aged under 18, hockey stands out as an ideal sport for younger generations and their parents, attracted by its values of respect, fair-play and integrity. Nike supports FIH’s efforts to keep on growing women’s hockey worldwide and are exploring ways to expand the partnership, aiming to inspire play and create a culture of belonging that welcomes all kids.
Commenting on the agreement, Olympic and World Champion Lidewij Welten (Netherlands), said: “I’m thrilled to be part of this exciting journey between Nike and the FIH, as we unite the passion of hockey with the global powerhouse of sports. The fusion of our dynamic sport and the iconic swoosh symbolizes a powerful stride forward, ensuring that the heartbeat of hockey resonates worldwide. Together with the FIH, Nike will be able to elevate the game to new heights, inspiring generations with every flick, dribble, and goal.”
Her teammate from the Dutch national team Pien Sanders, also an Olympic and World Champion, added: “It’s a very nice progression for the FIH to work with such a big brand and so together we can take hockey to the next level and make the sport bigger. Nike makes sure, first of all, that I can practice my sport with the best sports gear, but in addition, Nike also makes sure that every athlete can express themselves however they want. As long as you can be yourself, you can also deliver everything for the sport you play.”
Commenting on the agreement, FIH President Tayyab Ikram said: “This partnership with Nike is great news for the development of our sport! The brand’s global scale, presence and reputation propels hockey into a dimension that certainly allows us to look to the future with even more optimism. Nike’s commitment to young people and women in particular is perfectly in line with the FIH’s values of gender equality, diversity and inclusion. I am convinced that the signing of this partnership marks the beginning of a long-lasting, fruitful and mutually beneficial collaboration.”
-FIH
