22yardscricket
The Federation Internationale de Hockey (FIH) has moved the World Cup Hockey 2010 dates forward, ostensibly to avoid a clash of dates with the Indian Premier League (IPL). However, the world apex body stopped just short of citing the cricket mega event as a reason to move dates. Instead, a message on its official website said on Friday: The FIH has decided to start the Hero Honda FIH World Cup 2010 in New Delhi, one week earlier than originally scheduled. The new dates of the worlds most important mens hockey event will be February 28 to March 13, 2010. The reason the FIH moved the Hero Honda FIH World Cup 2010 one week is to get an even better worldwide promotion of FIHs showpiece event.
The FIH was made aware of the clash in dates by a 22yards report last week. In fact, FIHs communications manager , Arjen Meijer, had admitted then that the federation was in touch with the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and sports ministry to move dates.
FIH is looking to revive hockey in the country and the world body would be keen to ensure that the World Cup grabs enough eyeballs. FIH would also have an eye on International Olympic Committees (IOC) vote on disciplines to be included in the 2016 Olympic Games. The vote takes place in Copenhagen (Denmark) in October. Four years ago, the vote in Singapore saw hockey retained in a 26-discipline 2012 London London, registering a simple majority needed to achieve the status. Talking about TV audience figures, the FIH would hope for an all-time high at the New Delhi event. The 2006 World Cup in Monchengladbach, Germany , reportedly went out to 150 countries an increase of 54 countries compared to the previous World Cup in 2002.
Meanwhile, Hockey India president AK Mattoo told 22yards that the change in dates wont affect Indias preparations for the event. Theres still six months to go. Before the World Cup, we also have a four-nation event to test the venue, Mattoo said.
Photo:
http://www.prlog.org/
