Marsha, Annie appointed joint chiefs of FIH athletes' committee

The International Hockey Federation (FIH) on Friday announced that its athletes' committee will be led by two women Olympians -- South Africa's Marsha Cox and England and Great Britain's Annie Panter.

"The former athletes, who have five Olympic Games appearances and over 400 international caps between them, take on the joint roles of Chair for a two-year period following the FIH Congress in Dubai in November 2016," FIH said in a statement.

In the previous congress, it was announced that German Olympian Michael Green will leave the post, held since 2011, later in the year.

This structural change was approved by the FIH Executive Board earlier this week in Lausanne after the recommendation was put forward to them by the athletes' committee.

"This is an important step for the FIH as it continues to implement good governance and gender parity across all areas of the organisation in-line with Olympic Agenda 2020's recommendations to foster gender equality and comply with basic principles of good governance," the statement added.

Marsha and Annie were two of the four candidates to be elected directly by their peers at the Rabobank Hockey World Cup in June 2014. Earlier this year they were nominated as joint Chairs by their fellow Committee members to ensure continuity throughout several projects.

Annie will assume the role of athletes' representative on the FIH Executive Board and Competitions Committee, while Marsha will remain an athletes' representative for International Olympic Committee (IOC) and international relations activity on behalf of FIH, as well as on the Umpiring Committee and the Event Portfolio Working Group.

Germany's Michael Green leaves his position as Athletes' Committee Chair after six years in this position. Over this period he has led an overhaul of the Committee, ensuring gender balance and transparency throughout, whilst also making huge progress in terms of both the influence they have across the Federation as well as with communication to the athletes they are representing.