Lausanne, December 01: The International Hockey Federation wants to boost its income before the 2016 Olympics by cashing in on the sport’s popularity in India.
Field hockey’s ruling executive meets this week to study a six-year plan that aims to raise the game’s profile by using its biggest fan base.
“Many sports want to go to India because it’s a fantastic market,” Christophe Troendle, the FIH’s director-general, said. “For us it’s maybe easier because we are part of the culture.”
The FIH hopes that targeting sponsors and staging more top events in the nation of 1.1 billion people could help triple its annual budget of 5 million Swiss francs (USD 5 million; euro3.3 million).
New revenue from India would also reduce the governing body’s dependence on the International Olympic Committee, which provides 40 per cent of its income.
–PTI