Oman’s steps into becoming a hockey hub for the region went up another notch on Thursday after capital Muscat was announced as a venue for the FIH 2024 Olympic qualifiers.
Muscat replaces Pakistan after the FIH withdrew hosting rights for Lahore recently.
Oman had already expressed interest in hosting the qualifier — the FIH had told THP in the summer that it had “two to three” nations as a back-up — and now it will host the Jan 15-21 qualifiers, a few days before the first Hockey 5s World Cup gets under way at the same venue.
The other three FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifiers in January will be played in China (Women’s – 15-21 Jan 2024) and Spain (Women’s and Men’s – 13-21 Jan).
Six women’s and six men’s teams will qualify for Paris 2024 through these qualifiers, which have replaced the play-off matches.
Both Australia and the Netherlands women’s and men’s teams have already secured their ticket for Paris by winning the 2023 Oceania Cup and EuroHockey Championships respectively — and joining hosts France.
The Asian Games, ongoing in Hangzhou, China, as well as the upcoming Pan American Games and African Hockey Road to Paris tournament will determine the remaining teams qualifying directly for the Paris jamboree (three women’s and three men’s teams), as well as the teams playing the FIH qualifiers.
The Paris 2024 Olympic hockey tournaments will take place from July 27 to Aug 9 next year at at Stade Yves-du-Manoir.
Women’s Olympic qualifying teams (16)
Africa: 0 Asia: 4 Europe: 8 Oceania: 1 Pan America: 3
Men’s Olympic qualifying teams (16)
Africa: 1 Asia: 5 Europe: 7 Oceania: 1 Pan America: 2
Remaining Paris Olympic qualification schedule
23 Sep – 8 Oct 2023: 19th Asian Games: Hangzhou, People’s Republic of China
10 Oct – 5 Nov 2023: 19th Pan American Games: Santiago, Chile
6 Nov 2023: FIH Olympic Qualification Tournaments/Teams confirmed
