Brazil to host house-warming test event at new Rio 2016 hockey venue
Teams from Latin America and the Caribbean will be the first to play on new Olympic pitches unveiled last week
Matheus Borges (right) scored the goal that put Brazil into the Olympic Games (Rio 2016/Alexandre Loureiro)
The hockey field has been built, and now the players are coming. It might not quite be a Kevin Costner blockbuster, but excitement is building ahead of the Rio 2016 hockey test event that starts in Deodoro Olympic Park on Tuesday (24 November). The numbers are impressive: eight teams featuring 144 players will take part in the first competition on the new artificial turf, while 230 employees from 25 organising committee departments will be assisted by 166 volunteers at the five-day event.
In homage to Brazilian flag, hockey pitches for Rio 2016 Olympic Games are unveiled
David Luckes, sport director at the International Hockey Federation (FIH), said the organisation’s representatives were looking forward to seeing the new venue in competition mode. “This event will allow us to resolve any small issues and recommend any improvements with a view to making this a world-class venue not only for next year’s Olympics, but beyond, with legacy a key factor in this venue’s construction.”
Competition operations, results and medical services will be among the main areas tested, said Rio 2016 hockey manager Eduardo dos Santos Leonardo. “The field of play, technology, sport presentation and results will be in full operation in Deodoro, working in the same way that they will during the Olympic Games,” he added.
Go hockey crazy with our interactive infographic
The Olympic Hockey Centre has two match fields and one training pitch (Photo: Rio 2016/Alexandre Loureiro)
Eight teams from seven nations, all in the Americas, will take part in the Aquece Rio International Hockey Championship. In the men’s tournament, hosts Brazil (who have qualified for next year’s Olympic Games and are currently ranked 32 in the world) will take on Chile (ranked 25), Trinidad & Tobago (33) and Mexico (35). The Brazilian women’s team (who did not qualify for Rio 2016 and are ranked 41) will play host to Barbados (ranked 48), Paraguay (55) and Peru (65).
The teams will play each other in a round-robin format on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Friday will be reserved for rest and training, before the gold and bronze medal matches take place on Saturday, based on the teams’ rankings after the preliminary stage.
On Tuesday and Wednesday, about 300 children from the Rio 2016 education programme, Transforma, will cheer on the Brazilian women’s team, while 50 kids will have a hockey lesson with the pros on the pitch on Wednesday.
Hockey is the third competition in the second wave of Rio 2016 test events, following boccia and table tennis. This week will also see the badminton and canoe slalom test events take place.
