International Hockey Federation (FIH) has shortlisted two Asian countries India and Malaysia to host the men’s World Cup in 2018. The FIH executive Board has also selected Australia, Belgium, England, New Zealand as possible hosts on Saturday. Previously, India had hosted World Cup in 2010 at New Delhi. However the final decision is expected on 8th November.
The FIH website says that the expressions of interest obtained for the World Cups were part of the big Event Assignment Process launched by the FIH at FIH congress in November 2012 so that the unallocated events are assigned for the period of 2014 to 2018 before this year end.
World Cups aside, great interest was shown on the junior World Cups 2017 and a new type of “Champions Event”. Above all, particular interest was shown for World League semifinals which will be used as the main Olympics qualifying event in 2015 and the main World Cup qualifying event in 2017.
Among the applicants shortlisted for the World Cup, Australia, England, India, Malaysia have already hosted this peak event before. India has hosted the latest men’s edition three years ago. Belgium and New Zealand are the newcomers to bid the World Cup. Both of them have hosted international events recently, like the Women’s Olympic Qualifier last year and the Men’s Champion’s Trophy 2011 respectively.
Total sixteen nations are participating in this top event of both men’s and women’s World Cups 2018 which proves great interest and development of hockey. Highly anticipated Rabobank Hockey World Cup will take place during the first two weeks of June next year at The Hague, Netherlands. Twelve men’s and women’s team each will compete in a joint tournament in this top event.
President Leandro Negre of International hockey federation disclosed that the high interest shown by their member associations to host the Hockey World Cup is extremely encouraging and very much delighted with the positive reaction towards FIH’s new event assignment process. This successful first step reaffirmed their efforts to develop and strengthen their event brands and confirmed the FIH’s choice to select the host country much in advance than before. The next step of the process includes sending of bidding documentation and participation of all World Cup applicants in a one-day workshop on 7th May at Lausanne to help them prepare their bids before the deadline of 31st August.
