[img_assist|nid=5949|title=|desc=|link=none|align=right|width=100|height=100]CARDIFF, August 21 – Hockey Wales will be hosting an opening round of the new International Hockey Federation (FIH) international competition the World League, in Cardiff from Friday September 7 to Sunday September 9, 2012.
Day tickets are £5 for adults, £2 for U16s if bought in advance. See www.hockeywales.org.uk/worldleaguecardiff
The FIH World League is a two-year competition that replaces all previous world cup and Olympic qualifying events.
Coming off the back of one of the most successful Olympic games in recent memory, the Welsh players will be looking to not only achieve qualifcation for round two of the league in the name of Wales, but to also stake a claim on the Great Britain squad for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
With the introduction of the World League, the existing ‘continental quota’ system, which saw the top three/four European championship men’s sides qualify for the world cup and Olympics, has been abandoned. From now on onlly the continental champions will qualify directly. All other qualification places will now be decided through the World League.
The National Hockey Centre in Cardiff will see two games a day over all three days with Wales (ranked 29 in the world) taking on Ireland (15), Austria (21) and Sweden (35).
Alongside all the Hockey action, Hockey Wales are also providing a wide range of great activities and events:
- The launch of 4689, the new route into hockey. This interactive resource is designed to help the next generation of primary and secondary school children learn the fundamentals of hockey in a quick and simple way.
- The launch of the AspireGB program. This will provide specialist training and expertise to the top athletes within the Hockey Wales international system and get them ready to challenge for a place in the Great Britain squad going forward towards Rio 2016 and the Olympic Games in 2020.
The FIH World League operates over four rounds. The lower a team’s world ranking, the earlier they join. England’s men’s and women’s sides will join in round three. For more on the structure of the league, see September’s issue of Push magazine.
Match Schedule and activity schedule
Friday September 7, 2012
15:00 – 17:00 Game 1: Austria vs. Sweden
17:00 – 19:00 Game 2: Wales vs. Ireland
20:00 – Late Evening Dinner Event After all that great Hockey, join us for a two course evening meal and entertainment, brought to us by Tenovus.
Saturday September 8, 2012
11:00 – 13:00 Coaching Workshop: Is your coaching strategy fit for purpose and will it help identify and develop the next Sarah Thomas? Run by Jane Powell, Head of Coaching at England. £20.
13:30 – 15:00 Game 3: Austria vs. Ireland
15:15 – 15:50 AspireGB launch
15:50 – 16:00 Senior Women’s 50th Cap presentation
16:30 – 18:00 Game 4: Wales vs. Sweden
18:00 – 18:15 Ex-Player Parade
19:00 – Late Evening Dinner Event.
Sunday September 9, 2012
09: 00 – 11:00 4689 Launch.
11:00 – 12:00 Welsh Hockey Umpires Association: Umpire’s Workshop. After a morning meeting on the new rules of Hockey, the WHUA invite all current and interested umpires to take part in a free umpires’ workshop
12:00 – 13:30 Game 5: Ireland vs. Sweden
14:00 – 15:30 Game 6: Wales vs. Austria
For more details on any of these events visit:www.hockeywales.org.uk/worldleaguecardiff
As well as all of this, the event will also be supporting Wales’ leading cancer charity,Tenovus.
Alexandra Morgan, Community fundraiser at Tenovus, said: “It’s fantastic that Hockey Wales have chosen to support us through their Hockey World League events and we’re really looking forward to working with them. All the money raised will help us continue to support those with cancer wherever they live in Wales and will also allow us to continue fundingground-breaking research into cancer in Welsh universities.”
Sponsorship opportunities available. Contact debbie.thompson@hockeywales.org.uk
