Olympic Venue To Host Hockey Euro Champs
The European Hockey Federation and England Hockey Board have announced that England has been selected as the host of the women’s and men’s EuroHockey Championships 2015.
The Championships, which will take place in August 2015 at Lee Valley Hockey Centre, will be the first major international tournament to be held in the Olympic Park after the London 2012 Olympic Games and represent the next stage in the European Hockey Federation’s (EHF’s) plans for establishing a long lasting legacy for hockey.
The successful bid was developed by the England Hockey Board (EHB) with the support of London & Partners’ and UK Sport’s major event teams, together with the Olympic Park Legacy Company and Lee Valley Regional Park Authority.
Hosting major international tournaments is a cornerstone of the EHB’s strategy as it looks to maximise the opportunity afforded to sport by the Olympic Games.
With the Hockey Nation participation programme rolling out nationwide this spring and 630,000 spectators set to attend hockey matches at London 2012, the EuroHockey Championships 2015 continues the EHB’s commitment to developing a legacy for the sport.
On announcing England as the hosts, the EHF President, Marijke Fleuren said: ‘With great pleasure we announce the unanimous decision of the EHF Executive Board to award the hosting of the EuroHockey Championships, Women and Men, 2015 to the England Hockey Board.’
‘It was William Shakespeare who said that ‘no legacy is so rich as honesty’. The England Hockey Board has been honest in its promise of a legacy to hockey, not only today with this announcement, but also when they hosted the EuroHockey Championships in 2007 in Manchester at hockey’s legacy venue from the 2002 Commonwealth Games. We in the EHF are delighted to be going back once again to another wonderful hockey legacy venue, this time the Lee Valley Hockey Centre.’
‘The EuroHockey Championships in 2015 will offer the Champions, Women and Men, the best prize: participation in the XXXI Olympic Summer Games, 2016 in the city of Rio de Janeiro. I am sure, that under Sally Munday’s inspiring guidance, the EuroHockey Championships 2015, Women and Men, will be a superb experience for the players, officials and spectators. I have the full confidence that the EHF and England Hockey Board will work together in a spirit of co-operation and partnership.’
Philip Kimberley, chairman of the England Hockey Board, added: ‘We’re thrilled to have been named as the host of the EuroHockey Championships 2015, Women and Men. The bid team, led by chief executive Sally Munday, has done an exceptional job in preparing an outstanding bid and I offer my wholehearted congratulations and thanks to Sally, her team and our partners. This success once again demonstrates our commitment to creating a lasting legacy for people to continue to enjoy playing, watching and volunteering in hockey in this country.’
Situated in the north of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Lee Valley Hockey Centre’s standard 3,000 seat capacity will be expanded to hold up to 15,000 spectators with two world class pitches, dedicated media facilities, a supporters village and event management offices.
Following the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, Lee Valley Hockey Centre will be used by a multitude of users from community groups, schools and clubs to international players for major championships.
The nine day event would comprise of 300 players and team management from approximately ten different nations.
