Friday 18th July 2008
India to host 2010 Hockey WC
The Federation of International Hockey has formally awarded the hosting rights of 2010 men's World Cup to India.
Confirming that hosting of 2010 World Cup hockey tournament in New Delhi in February will be a FIH-Indian Hockey Confederation joint venture, the world body on Thursday said the event would be managed by a governing body of eight persons appointed by them.
FIH President Els van Breda Vriesman, who met Indian Olympic Association President Suresh Kalmadi who is also the chairman of the ad-hoc committee running Hockey in India, said the dates of the tournament would be declared later.
"FIH 2010 men's world cup has been confirmed and the venue for it is New Delhi, which will also host the 2010 Commonwealth Games. Dates for the men's world cup will be announced later," she said
This is the first time that the World body has not allowed a national federation total command to organise a major event like World Cup on its own.
In a press release, the IHF said "the organising committee will be responsible for the day to day organisation and conduct of the event while the governing body will have the overall responsibility for organising the event. The Chairperson of the Organising Committee will also be a member of the Governing Body".
FIH's decision to involve itself in organising the event assumes special importance since the world body insisted IHC late last year to reform its operations and its way of functioning.
In fact, Jacques Roggee, IOC President, and Els Van Breda Vriesman, FIH President, visited India this April and held discussions with IHC and also the Indian Olympic Association in regard to re- structuring of the IHC and proper encouragement of the game.
FIH also said that it was influenced by the success of its project 'Promoting Indian Hockey' in alloting the 2010 World Cup to New Delhi.
Mr. Suresh Kalmadi then disclosed that the National stadium in New Delhi would be the venue for the mega event.
"The National Hockey Stadium in New Delhi will be the venue of the mega event. The stadium will also be the venue of hockey competition of Commonwealth Games in 2010," he said.
The IHC have earlier successfully hosted men's Champions Trophy twice in Chennai (1995 and 2005).
