WorldHockey Youth Challenge

This year’s Youth Challenge (formerly known as “Global Youth Hockey Marathon”) will be the first event in a series to celebrate 100 years of hockey in the Olympics. The event, which will take place 17-18 May 2008, has as central theme:

in anticipation of the Beijing Olympics and to celebrate 100 years of Hockey in the Olympics.

Worldwide event

All NAs have been invited to join the “Live the Dream” event. An ideas booklet has been sent out in January and has been posted on the Development/Youth section of www.worldhockey.org.

Picture Gallery

Similar to previous events there will be a report section and Picture Gallery on the WorldHockey website. You will soon receive a report form from your CDO.

Prizes

The 5 prize winning countries of this year’s Youth Challenge will receive a visit of an Olympic Hockey Hero.  These athletes will visit the lucky NAs for 2/3 days and will conduct coaching clinics, show the newest tricks from Beijing and talk about the Road to the Olympics.

A jury consisting of members of the FIH DCC and FIH Youth Panel will select 1 country per continent who has organized the most exciting “Live the Dream” event showing a clear link with “100 years of hockey in the Olympics”

Special event

A special “Live the Dream event” will take place in Monchengladbach, Germany, in conjunction with the Samsung Women’s Champions Trophy. There will be several “Live the Dream” activities for all state school teams with current and former Olympians giving the event a special flavour.

Dream

We hope that each NA will make it a DREAM event for their young players, as seperate event or as an “Add-On” event – alongside the regular leagues and activities!

Information

For further information you can contact the FIH Development Manager Gabrielle van Doorn at  or the Continental Development Officer.