Following a robust bid process, the European Hockey Federation (EHF) and the Deutscher Hockey Bund (DHB) are delighted to announce that 2023 EuroHockey Championships Men and Women will be held in Mönchengladbach, Germany, August 2023.
The EHF President, Marijke Fleuren said “We were very pleased that initially five of the EHF Member Associations decided to enter a bid earlier this year. At the end of the process, the Bid Committee had the hard job of deciding between the Deutscher Hockey Bund (DHB) and the Royal Belgium Hockey Association (KBHB). The criteria for selection were based on Compliance and Obligations, Event Promotion and Presentation, Commercial Aspects and Legacy. Both bids had very strong attributes and we know that either Federation would be well able to deliver an excellent event. On this occasion, we are entrusting the DHB and the German hockey community with showcasing our most prestigious event.
I would like to thank Serge Pilet and his team for their excellent bid, there is no doubt that KBHB has proved that they can host the most marvellous festival of European hockey, as they did in Antwerp in 2019. We know that we will be back in Belgium for many EuroHockey events in the future.”
Speaking about the 2023 EuroHockey Championships she added “We are very much looking forward to working with our colleagues in the DHB under the leadership of its President Carola Meyer to bring the European hockey family back to the wonderful venue in Mönchengladbach for what we believe will be a truly equally amazing event! “
DHB President Carola Meyer said: “The most beautiful thing for us comes at the end of this difficult year 2020 for the sport. After the inclusion of Special Hockey at the Special Olympics World Games and the awarding of the EuroHockey Indoor Championships 2022 to Hamburg, the fact that we could bring the EuroHockey Championships back to Mönchengladbach after twelve years really tops everything!
We thank the EHF very much for their trust in us to host this most important EuroHockey tournament. I would especially like to thank the state of North Rhine-Westphalia and the city of Mönchengladbach, whose commitment was crucial in the bidding process so that we can now be so happy!”
Mönchengladbach’s Lord Mayor Felix Heinrichs: “I am very happy about the awarding of the EuroHockey Championships to Mönchengladbach. Our modern field hockey stadium, which hosted the Men’s Hockey World Cup in 2006, the Women’s Champions Trophy in 2008, the Men’s Champions Trophy in 2010 and the Men’s and Women’s EuroHockey Championships in 2011, is an ideal venue for major sporting events of this kind thanks to its excellent infrastructure. The 2023 EuroHockey Championship is another opportunity for Mönchengladbach to once again demonstrate its positive image as a sports city.“
Janne Müller-Wieland, captain of the women’s national team and co-chair of the EHF’s Athletes Committee, summed up the joy of her team: “Having the 2023 EuroHockey Championship in Germany is super because it will then have been twelve years since we had such a top event in Germany.
The current developments in the team show that we play among the European top – and to be able to do that in front of family and friends means a special incentive and is a great signal for hockey in Germany.”
Main Photograph: Germany men, winners of the 2011 EuroHockey Championships, in Mönchengladbach (EHF / World Sport Pics (c))
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2023 EuroHockey Championships Bid Process:
On January 24th a letter was sent to the EHF’s Member Associations seeking expressions of interest to host the Championships with interest to be confirmed in writing to the EHF by February 28th.
The members that expressed interest were Belgium, England, France, Germany, and Spain.
Due to the Covid19 pandemic, the written presentation deadline was extended by two months to July 21st. Both France and England withdrew their bids at this time, followed by Spain. This left the bids from Belgium and Germany.
The EHF Executive Board agreed to Bid Committee made up of EHF President Marijke Fleuren, Walter Kapounek, Inez Cooper, Bjorn Isberg and Angus Kirkland.
Again due to Covid19 a planned visit to the two countries proved impossible, so both countries made their presentations on 27th November 2020, via video conference.
The Bid Committee met via video conference on Tuesday 8th December to discuss and evaluate the two bids, both of which had very strong attributes.
The Bid Committee unanimously agreed to recommend the bid from the Deutscher Hockey Bund, which was endorsed by the EHF Executive Board on 12th December 2020.
