FIH confirms New Delhi as host for 2010 Men's Hockey World Cup

New Delhi, June 6 (UNI) The International Hockey Federation (FIH) today confirmed New Delhi as the host for the Men's Hockey World Cup to be held in February 2010.

After naming the capital city as a possible organizer in March this year, the FIH and the Indian Hockey Confederation (IHC) both agreed in principle to host the important event.

The organization of the World Cup will be a joint venture between the FIH and the Indian Hockey Confederation. A Governing Board of 6-8 persons appointed by the FIH and the IHC will be oversee the organization of the extravaganza.

An organizing committee will be responsible for the 'day to day' organization and conduct of the event. The chairperson of this organizing committee will also be member of the Governing Board.

Since the visit of IOC President Jacques Rogge and FIH President Els van Breda Vriesman in India in April 2007, further progress in the structure of Indian Hockey was made.

The success of the project 'Promoting Indian Hockey', a project of the FIH in cooperation with the IHC, the Indian Olympic Association and Olympic Solidarity (IOC), also had its positive influence on awarding the World Cup to India. Discussions with potential candidates for a commercial title sponsor of this event is already on.

The IOA, the Sports Authority of India, the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the organizing committee of the 2010 Commonwealth Games (to be held in New Delhi, India in October 2010) all supported Delhi's bid for the staging of the event.

The FIH Executive Board will meet in New Delhi in November later this year to discuss the progress report of the organization of the World Cup.

It will be the first time in hockey history that the FIH Executive Board meets in India.

UNI