President of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), Franco-Québécois Luc Tardif probably carried out the most unusual recruitment in the history of his sport.
Since October 6, the date of a friendly match between the national women’s teams of Thailand and China organized in Bangkok, Suthida Bajrasudhabimalalakshana has been the first ambassador of women’s hockey on a global scale.
Suthida Bajrasudhabimalalakshana is the Queen of Thailand.
The genesis of this agreement, as Luc Tardif recounts as soon as he got off the plane that brought him back to Europe, is like a fairy tale. “In fact, it all started in an informal discussion during the 140th IOC Session which was held in Mumbai in October 2023. I learned there that the Queen had a passion for hockey, that she played it and that she had learned to skate in Switzerland, in St. Moritz.” Luc Tardif widens his pupils and, in the process, appropriates the expression “he who tries nothing, gets nothing”. He sends an official letter to the queen. Who responds positively to him.
The face-to-face between Thai and Chinese hockey players, a match organized to celebrate the goodwill between the two nations a year before the celebrations of the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic relations, notably allowed Luc Tardif to present the Queen with his certificate of ‘ambassador. “It seems to me that she is the only queen to play hockey on this planet,” notes Luc Tardif. Who was confronted with a reality whose importance he had not imagined. “When the king and queen are on the move, managing security is an impressive challenge.”
This will not prevent the Queen from taking her role to heart and truly investing in promoting the development of hockey in Asia. “We will not have more players in Finland, image Tardif. On the other hand, there is fantastic development potential in Asia which benefits from the momentum of the last two Winter Olympic Games organized in South Korea and China. It’s a good time to ride this wave.” He adds: “In China alone, 300 ice rinks have been built in recent years, which makes it possible to develop leagues, train coaches and organize conferences.”
The Queen of Thailand will promote the Asian Cups which will bring together Kazakhstan, China, Japan and South Korea in Almaty (men at the beginning of November) and in Beijing (women at the end of November). ‘october).
Luc Tardif also has the idea of inviting her to an upcoming women’s world championship. Perhaps at that of division 1A in Schenzen, China, in April 2025.
