That’s how we actually BERT SPAAK world can now watch our events. By developing and offering our own content from the stand we have made big progress. The EHL is an example of entrepreneurship with an enormous amount of freedom, because instead of being bound by all kinds of structures and rules, the two shareholders can just launch a new product in the marketplace.” European sport “Our cooperation with the EHF and the space they have provided us with to implement our ideas have put us in a position to develop into the birthing-room of international hockey”, declares Bert Spaak fi ve years after the launch of the EHL. “That’s how we actually formulated it right in the beginning: a laboratory for hockey. This pertains to the sport itself, as well as to how it is show-cased and marketed. All in all it has produced a magnifi cent concept that has been welcomed by the entire world of hockey. At PRO SPORT we are all tremendously proud of this and we are working very hard at trying to improve on it every year.” Maurits Hendriks: “It was a fascinating experience for me to see my ideas realised this way. I can remember the fi rst edition and especially the introduction of the self pass. In my wildest dreams I had never even dared hope that this innovation would be so roundly welcomed by the players. It was a pleasure to see what great players were able to make of it after such a short preparation period. The expansion to several competition locations and the “It was a fascinating experience for me to see my ideas realised this way” MAURITS HENDRIKS way in which things have been organised fi nancially was also an example of our trailblazing efforts. In the old format participants had to pay their own expenses, whereas now in the EHL travel costs and accommodations are paid for and 31 formulated it right in the beginning: a laboratory for hockey you can even win prize money. This has drastically changed the way in which teams prepare for the competitions. It was no longer a nice outing but rather a serious competition which demanded that participants gave their utmost in order to stay in the running and it made it possible for teams to grow.” Bert Spaak: “The EHL makes hockey a greater European sport. Currently, it is true that it is still too much of a Dutch event and it needs to develop outside of the Netherlands and Germany, Spain and England, but there is defi nitely a positive trend in that direction. The Dragons in Brasschaat, Belgium played a packed stadium with a great atmosphere. We have also been quite successful in France. Sportively, all the countries and clubs have a very positive attitude. In some countries they have even adjusted the competition calendar in order to join the EHL.” Viable Seven years have gone by since the speech by Maurits Hendriks. He is no longer a hockey coach, 20 07 20 12 FOTO: FRANK UIJLENBROEK Pagina 30
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