Day 1 - Sunday 1st August 2010

The Festival has started - finally!!

After a long and intense preperation period the Gladbacher Hockey & Tennis Club in Mönchengladbach opened its doors for the Festival Group.

Sunday 1 August at 13.00 hours the DHB President and FIH Executive Board Stephan Abel officially opened the event. Mr. Abel started to thank the host families and the Gladbacher Hockey & Tennis Club and welcomed the young people, in which he believes.

The FIH Development Manager Gabriëlle van Doorn then introduced the participants to the programme and the international staff, including Gill Gemming from New Zealand (FIH CDO for Oceania), Norman Hughes from England (FIH CDO for Europe), Claudia Klatt from Germany (International Hockey Journalist & Event organizer), Tina Brullo from Australia (FIH Youth Panel coordinator and Senior Event Manager at several FIH Events) and the local staff Stephan Haumann and Jan Fischedick.

Gabrielle mentioned the uniqueness of a group so diverse, but sharing one and the same passion: to develop and promote hockey.

In a fun and active session with balloons, oranges and number plates lead by Gill Gemming and Tina Brullo the participants got to know each others names and expectations for the Festival.

After activeness it was time to talk. In 4 different working groups participants talked about their background in hockey, their presentation and started to share ideas.

Then it was time to see the big guys play... off the group went to the Champions Trophy, where Australia beat the Netherlands in a exciting game with lots of goals. Spain and England kept each other in balance and drew the game 3-3.

After this game an afternoon filled with new experiences, new people and some great hockey came to an end. .. German families were waiting for “their” participants to go home with them. Thank you host families for looking after our young leaders and for giving them an unforgettable intercultural experience!