Olympics.

This word is magic.

Every sports person wants to be there, every men and women who like life, wants witness Olympics.

To be part of the Olympic is a mission for every sportsman, ‘Olympian’ is the tag that evokes respect and prestige in life.

For Indian hockey, Olympics has been the life line since they just won the Gold at Amsterdam.

Till 1968, every member of the Federation Internationale de Hockey — which was then known as International Hokey Federation and had to change its name to present one to avoid clashing with Handball body — was happy to enlist as many of its members in the Olympic field.

The number of countries took part in the Mexico was an amazing 18.

When Munich hosted the next edition, the numbers has to be cut down, a norm had to be established. Thus came the ruling — only 12 teams for Olympics.

To prune the size of hockey field is a challenge, the IOC left it to the FIH insofar as hockey is concerned.

The FIH for long used its logic to decide on the teams and there have always been heartburns as to why a nation was not considered, why the other was left out.

We cannot even now definitely say the norms that are now in vogue are even, giving level playing field to every stake holder.

In the past, holding a play off series between East Germany and England had been a bone of contention, and unexpectedly what everyone thought a routine affairs as the English would catwalk into the Olympics, turned sore.

East Germany won the play off.

Then came the biggest of all dilemma.

India finished last in a field of 12 at the Wisedon World Cup, and how can team only that much worth can walk into the next Olympics.

So India’s 1988 Olympics was somehow managed, history weighing big in the minds of policy makers.

There were against rumblings as to India’s entry into the Asia’s Olympics. Some rightly questioned it, many in husked voice.

So, a system ought to be put in place to avoid controversies, to present a level playing field.

Thus came a new genre of competition, Olympic Qualifiers.

Is it not ironic a country known for Olympic feats is also indirectly responsible for Qualifiers thereto?

The first mega Olympic Qualifier was held at Auckland in New Zealand in the run up to Barcelona Olympics.

It was a huge task for the New Zealand to host as many as 24 national teams, 12 for men, 12 for women.

More to be added