PRESS PACK London 10-26 June 2016 Contents Key contacts & resources 1 Welcome message from FIH President Leandro Negre 2 About the Hockey Champions Trophies 3 About London and the Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre 9 Competitions format 11 Men’s Competition Teams 13 Match schedule 21 Tournament Officials 22 Women’s Competition Teams 23 Match schedule 32 Tournament Officials 33 Useful information Event logos for download 34 Event photography 35 Following the competitions 36 Key facts 37 Rules and Tournament regulations 38 FIH World Rankings 40 Rio 2016 Olympic Games preview 42 The Hockey Revolution 45 The Future of International Hockey 46 CNT Key contacts & resources FIH Media Contacts: For all media queries relating to the event, please contact [email protected] FIH Event Media Manager Richard Stainthorpe Email: [email protected] Tel: +44 (0) 7733 322910 FIH Communications and Digital Manager Daniel Parker Email: [email protected] Tel: +41 (79) 619 7724 Great Britain Hockey Media Contacts: GB Hockey Communications Manager Craig Mortimer-Zhika Email: [email protected] Tel: +44 (0)7988 620992 Resources: Event Websites: Men: http://www.fih.ch/events/champions-trophy/2016-mens-champions-trophy Women: http://www.fih.ch/events/champions-trophy/2016-womens-champions-trophy Social media: The FIH will provide comprehensive coverage of the event via our social media channels, including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Snapchat. Facebook: facebook.com/fihockey Instagram: instagram.com/fihockey Twitter: twitter.com/fih_hockey Snapchat: fihockey Hashtags: #HCT2016 #BestOfTheBest In-Event Stats and Historical data: The FIH has created a dedicated website which provides a fascinating overview of the men’s and women’s Hockey Champions Trophy events. The information available includes head to heads, team stats, individual stats, all time top scorers and much more. The data will be continually updated during the events. This information can be found here. 1 CNT Introduction A word from Leandro Negre, President of the International Hockey Federation (FIH) Dear Hockey Media Representative, It is with great pleasure that I welcome you to London for the Hockey Champions Trophies 2016. We are delighted to bring these two high-profile events to the Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre, the superb London 2012 Olympic legacy facility situated in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. Following the remarkable success of the Unibet EuroHockey Championships last year, we are in no doubt that this truly world class venue will provide a superb platform to showcase our sport during the 2016 Hockey Champions Trophies. The hosting of innovative and exciting entertainment events is a key goal in FIH’s Hockey Revolution strategy, which is designed to raise the global status and popularity of hockey in a bid to reach our ambition of becoming a global game that inspires the next generation. With exceptional action on the field and fan-focussed entertainment all around the venue, we know that a very special time awaits everyone attending the events in London. The prestigious Champions Trophies are considered to be hockey’s entertainment showpiece events. They are always fiercely competitive and the line-up for the events in London – the last elite international competitions before the Rio 2016 Olympic Games – ensures that the 2016 editions will be extra special. In the men’s Hero Hockey Champions Trophy (10-17 June), world champions Australia will face Olympic champions and 2014 Hockey Champions Trophy winners Germany, Asian continental champions India, host nation Great Britain, European giants Belgium and the always dangerous Korea. The nations competing in the women’s event (18-26 June) have all booked their tickets to Rio, including the Netherlands, Argentina and Great Britain, the respective gold, silver and bronze medallists from the London 2012 Games. Australia, New Zealand and USA complete the line-up for what promises to be a fascinating and action-packed event. A wonderful two weeks of world class hockey awaits. While thousands of fans are expected at the venue, a global audience of millions will be following all of the action on TV, live streaming and through all of our digital channels. I would like to thank Great Britain Hockey, the city of London and all of their partners for their tireless efforts in preparation for what is certain to be a fantastic festival of hockey. Our thanks must also go to all of the sponsors and the hundreds of volunteers who are crucial to making these competitions a success. I wish all of the athletes and officials the best of luck on the field and hope that everyone has a wonderful experience in one of the greatest cities in the world. Yours in hockey. Leandro Negre FIH President 2 CNT About the Hockey Champions Trophies The men’s and women’s Hockey Champions Trophies are exclusive, glamorous and prestigious competitions that showcase the very best that hockey has to offer, with the finest international teams competing to claim titles of historical significance. The Champions Trophy events in London will feature the 36th edition of the men’s competition and the 22nd women’s event. Six teams will take part in each competition, representing the best of the best international hockey teams in the world. It is fitting that the Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre, the London 2012 legacy facility located in the iconic Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, will host the last major international hockey events ahead of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in August. The 2016 Hockey Champions Trophies will therefore officially kick off the sport’s Olympic festivities in samba style! Only one more edition of the Hockey Champions Trophy will take place following this year’s events in London. The 2018 men’s and women’s Hockey Champions Trophies will mark the end of this historic tournament as the sport of hockey moves to an exciting new portfolio of events which will be introduced in 2019. This will make both the 2016 and 2018 editions even more special. With teams knowing that this is one of the last opportunities to be added to the elite group of previous Hockey Champions Trophy winners, every team will be out there to win and in doing so etch their name on this unique Trophy and in the history books for eternity. Vital FIH World Ranking points will also be on offer at both events. Such points can give nations a significant advantage in terms of qualification for future competitions, including the Hockey World Cup and Olympic Games. They will also play an important role in determining which nations will be invited to join the new international home and away league system as part of the new portfolio of events. 3 CNT Men’s Hockey Champions Trophy The men’s Hockey Champions Trophy was first developed by Air Marshal (retired) Nur Khan, former President of the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF). During the Hockey World Cup in 1978 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Nur Khan offered the FIH the chance to stage a ‘Super World Cup tournament’ in Pakistan, where the best nations in the world would participate. At the time, the selection of the teams had to be based on the most recent FIH World Ranking, according to the Olympic Games and the World Cup. Former FIH President René Frank, from Belgium, took Khan’s idea to the FIH Executive Board and they agreed that the tournament would start later that year, in 1978. The PHF, taking the initiative of this ‘Super World Cup tournament’ (shortly thereafter the name was changed to Champions Trophy), obtained the right to organise the first edition. The inaugural tournament took place in the city of Lahore, Pakistan in November 1978 and featured five teams – Pakistan, Australia, Great Britain, New Zealand and Spain, with Pakistan winning the title on home soil. Following a two-year gap between the first (1978) and second (1980) editions of the Hockey Champions Trophy, the competition was played on an annual basis until 2012. The Champions Trophy has reverted to a biennial event from 2014 onwards due to the introduction of the Hockey World League. This year’s men’s Hero Hockey Champions Trophy sees the competition revert back to being a six nations event. Aside from the inaugural five team competition, a seven team tournament in 1980 and the eight nation editions in 1987, 2007, 2011, 2012 and 2014, all other men’s Hockey Champions Trophy editions have featured six teams. Australia are the most successful nation in men’s Hockey Champions Trophy history, having won the gold medal on 13 separate occasions, five more than nearest rivals Netherlands. Dutchman Taeke Taekema is the top goal-scorer in the history of the competition, netting 46 times for the Netherlands between 2000 and 2011. 4 CNT Men’s Hockey Champions Trophy Medal Winners Edition Venue Gold Silver Bronze 2014 Bhubaneswar (IND) Germany (GER) Pakistan (PAK) Australia (AUS) 2012 Melbourne (AUS) Australia (AUS) Netherlands (NED) Pakistan (PAK) 2011 Auckland (NZL) Australia (AUS) Spain (ESP) Netherlands (NED) 2010 Mönchengladbach (GER) Australia (AUS) England (ENG) Netherlands (NED) 2009 Melbourne (AUS) Australia (AUS) Germany (GER) Korea (KOR) 2008 Rotterdam (NED) Australia (AUS) Spain (ESP) Argentina (ARG) 2007 Kuala Lumpur (MAS) Germany (GER) Australia (AUS) Netherlands (NED) 2006 Terrassa (ESP) Netherlands (NED) Germany (GER) Spain (ESP) 2005 Chennai (IND) Australia (AUS) Netherlands (NED) Spain (ESP) 2004 Lahore (PAK) Spain (ESP) Netherlands (NED) Pakistan (PAK) 2003 Amstelveen (NED) Netherlands (NED) Australia (AUS) Pakistan (PAK) 2002 Cologne