Field hockey to have mixed-gender on-field umpiring at the Olympics for the 1st time

PARIS — Field hockey will have mixed gender on-field umpiring at the Paris Games, which the sport's governing body said was a first in Olympic play.

The International Hockey Federation, or FIH, announced the move Sunday. The organization has had mixed gender umpiring at other tournaments but never before in the Olympics.

“Gender equality is anchored into hockey’s DNA, and FIH won’t miss any opportunity to promote it," president Tayyab Ikram said in a statement. “With the introduction of mixed gender on-field umpiring at the Olympics, FIH is showcasing once more its determination towards a more gender-equal sport and society.”

Hours earlier, International Olympic Committee officials said gender equality across sports was a top priority. The balance between men and women competing at the Games was roughly 51% to 49%, according to an IOC database.

Field hockey is among the 28 of 32 sports at the Olympics that are gender-balanced, with 12 men's and 12 women's teams.

“Many historic firsts, many historic moments in these Games already happened and happening," IOC spokesperson Mark Adams said at the IOC's daily news conference. “One of them is (near) full gender parity for the first time ever, so something really to be celebrated.”

The FIH said field hockey, which is taking place in the Paris suburb of Colombes, has an exact 50/50 split of men and women serving as umpires. Paris organizers say it is also an even split among its 45,000 Olympic volunteers.

Field hockey competition started Saturday and runs through men's and women's gold-medal games Aug. 8 and 9.

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AP Sports Writer Jerome Pugmire contributed.