The Congress and Meetings week of the International Hockey Federation (FIH) in Los Angeles, USA was officially opened on Monday with the Welcome Cocktail of USA FieldHockey and the United States Olympic Committee (USOC).

The FIH awarded four people who made an excellent contribution to hockey over the past years. Evlyn Raistrick of Scotland received the Order of Merit out of the hands of FIH President Els van Breda Vriesman and FIH Honorary Secretary General Peter Cohen. Janet Ellis (CAN), Ken Read (AUS) and Peter Wefers-Bettink (NED) received the FIH Diploma of Merit.

The FIH Congress and Meetings week continued on Tuesday. On Friday 28 November 2008, the FIH Forum ‘Moving Hockey Forward’ will take place in Los Angeles. In the evening, the FIH will award the Players of the Year. On Saturday 29 November, the FIH Congress will take place.