IOC President Dr. Jacques Rogge and FIH President and IOC Member Els van Breda Vriesman launched the hockey part of the Sports for Hope Zambia project of the IOC during a special fundraising lunch in Amsterdam on Friday.

50 guests were invited to join Dr. Rogge and Mrs. Van Breda Vriesman at the headquarters of WorldHockey Partner ABN AMRO to attend the lunch and the presentation of the IOC President regarding the Sports for Hope Project. The IOC is realizing an Olympic Youth Development center in the African country and the FIH is making sure that high quality hockey pitches will be constructed at the center in Zambia.

‘Our mission is to provide young people and communities in developing countries with opportunities to practice sport and be educated in the values of Olympism’, Dr. Rogge stated. ‘The National Olympic Committee of Zambia will own the Center and undertakes to manage it, with the support of the Government of Zambia, the IOC and International Sports Federations.’

The FIH President stated that the FIH needs funds to establish the hockey pitches. The FIH already received different donations, but is still looking for funds.

There will be a special fundraising action taking place during the WorldHockey Champions Trophy in Rotterdam, which will take place from 21 until 29 June 2008. Furthermore, the FIH opened a special account Sport for Hope – Hockey Project Zambia. The account number is 46.28.73.110 (ABN AMRO Netherlands).