We are fully geared up to host the Hero Honda FIH World Cup
competition here from February 28 to March 13, 2010. Each of the 11
teams from overseas has confirmed participation. In fact, Australia
and Pakistan teams have already arrived in India and the other teams
have intimated their arrival schedule as well. The technical officials
from overseas have also started arriving. All this augurs well for the
success of the competition.

The International Hockey Federation (FIH) has designated marketing and
event management company Commune Sports & Entertainment to assist in
the organisation of the World Cup. The Indian Olympic Association and
the Organising Committee Commonwealth Games 2010 Delhi have lent total
support to ensure that the World Cup is organised in a befitting
manner.

The redesigned Maj. Dhyan Chand National Stadium is fully operational
and ready to stage the World Cup. The necessary technical
arrangements, including the installation of video scoreboards and the
goalposts, have been made. A number of volunteers, both sport-specific
and general, have been identified and trained.

The security arrangements were reviewed last week by the International
Security Liaison Group in a meeting with the representatives of the
Heads of Missions of the 11 nations in India. There is a strong
commitment from the authorities’ to implement robust security measures
to ensure the safety of the teams and officials at all times. Delhi
Police will keep the people at large informed.

As far as the sale of tickets is concerned, we are happy that it has
been progressing well. Tickets have been made available online at
http://specials.msn.co.in/sp10/hockey/ticket_prices.aspx and have been
on sale in many Café Coffee Day and other outlets in the Capital.
There has been brisk sale of tickets.

We are also happy that all those who have represented India in the
Olympic Games hockey competition, members of the 1975 World Cup
winning squad and Arjuna Award winning hockey players have been to
come and watch the World Cup here.

We are sure that the Hero Honda FIH World Cup will be a resounding success.