Lausanne, June 10 (IANS): The International Hockey Federation (FIH) on Wednesday announced that it is holding its 45th Congress in Dubai in collaboration with the Dubai Sports Council (DSC) and supported by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Hockey Federation.

The six-day event, which will run November 8-13, 2016, will comprise meetings, social events, networking opportunities and presentations. The main Congress meeting will take place on Saturday, November 12, when new national associations will be welcomed and elections for the executive board membership will take place.

The Congress will be attended by more than 300 delegates, representing over 80 affiliated countries.

"Hosting the FIH Congress represents another positive step forward in Dubai’s ongoing strategy to not only attract new and influential sports to the region but to promote the world-class sporting facilities that exist here," Saeed Hareb, secretary general of Dubai Sports Council, said in a release on Wednesday.

"There is huge potential to grow the sport of hockey in the United Arab Emirates and across the Middle East region. As a global sports family, we all have a responsibility to secure the future of the sport and the FIH Congress provides an ideal platform to do just that,” said Ismail Ali Abdulla Al Banna, president, UAE Hockey Federation.

FIH president Leandro Negre said: "I am delighted that FIH Congress will take place in Dubai in 2016. FIH is working to grow hockey with the DSC in Dubai and with the UAE Hockey Federation in the country."