LONDON, Jul 24 (Reuters): Factbox on hockey at the Aug. 8-24
Beijing Olympics: HISTORY Forms of hockey were played in ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome as well as by the Aztecs. The game was standardised by the British at the end of the 18th century, primarily as a school sport.It was included in the Olympics as a men’s sport for the first time at the 1908 Games in London. Women’s hockey was added in Moscow in 1980.The sport’s governing body, the International Hockey Federation, was founded in 1924 and now has 112 members.The outdoor version of the game was traditionally played on grass but synthetic pitches are now used for top-level competitions.
OLYMPIC QUALIFICATION
Men’s – China, New Zealand, Netherlands, South Korea, Canada, Germany, South Africa, Spain, Belarus, Pakistan, Britain and Australia.
Women’s – China, Germany, Argentina, Spain, South Africa, Netherlands, Britain, New Zealand, United States, South Korea, Australia and Japan.
2004 CHAMPIONS
Men: Australia
Women: Germany
OLYMPIC PROGRAMME VENUE
Olympic Green Hockey Stadium
OFFICIAL WEBSITE www.fihockey.org