27th Champions Trophy Hockey Tournament is to be played in Lahore from 4th till 12th Decemeber.
Teams participating in the tournamnet would be:
1-Australia
2-Holland
3-Germany
4-Spain
5-Pakistan
6-Newzealand
This is the 10th time that Champions Trophy is being played in Pakistan,
Australia's Olympic gold medal-winning men's hockey team is considering pulling out of December's Champions Trophy tournament in Pakistan because of safety concerns.
Hockey Australia is monitoring Federal Government warnings urging Australians to avoid all non-essential travel to the country because of fears over possible terrorist attacks.
Senior hockey officials say Australia's involvement in the Iraq conflict is also being taken into account.
Australia has never missed a Champions Trophy tournament in the 27-year history of the event.
But team member Nathan Eglington says some players are concerned.
"It has been talked about and there are some guys who are saying they don't think it's the right idea to send a team there," he confirmed.
"As Olympic champions we have automatic qualification for the World Cup, so it's not like we have to go and qualify or anything like that."
Hockey Australia chief executive Lyndon Adamson said he had asked tournament organisers in Pakistan for details of their security plans for the event.
He warned that any decision to keep the Kookaburras at home would not be taken lightly.
"We've never missed a Champion's Trophy," he said.
AUSTRALIA's gold medal-winning men's team is considering boycotting the six-nation Champions Trophy tournament in Pakistan in December because of terrorism fears.
Hockey Australia chief executive Lyndon Adamson told The Weekend Australian yesterday that he had asked tournament organisers in Pakistan for details of their security plans for the event.
The tournament is scheduled to be played at Lahore from December 4 to 12. Adamson said the federal government last month had renewed its warning for Australians to avoid all non-essential travel to Pakistan because of possible terrorist attacks.
"We are taking the travel advisory very, very seriously. Our primary concern is for the safety of players, coaches and support staff," Adamson said.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade's latest advisory on travel to Pakistan reports in part: "We continue to receive reports that terrorists in the region are planning attacks against a range of targets, including places frequented by foreigners."
Adamson said: "I have also been kept up to date on security matters within Pakistan with the newly appointed Australian High Commissioner Zorica McCarthy. While she's only been in the job a little more than a week, Hockey Australia is taking the advice quite seriously.
"But before any decision is made one way or the other, all the relevant facts and various written reports will be put before my board of directors. We're not going to be rushed into making any quick decision.
"A final decision is still seven or eight weeks away."
The Kookaburras have never missed a Champions Trophy tournament in the 27-year history of the event. The tournament, which Australia has won seven times, brings together the top six hockey nations -- defending Champion Trophy holders The Netherlands, Germany, Spain, New Zealand and hosts Pakistan.
The Kooakburras last won the trophy in 1999 and made the final in The Netherlands last year, only to be beaten by the Dutch.
But Brisbane-based team member Nathan Eglington said some players were concerned about the terrorist threat.
"It has been talked about and there are some guys who are saying they don't think it's the right idea to send a team there," Eglington told ABC radio.
But Melbourne-based Adamson said Hockey Australia would think long and hard before pulling out of the Pakistan series.
"We've never missed a Champion's Trophy," he said. "We are obviously now Olympic champions and have a responsibility to world-level events and we will take that responsibility seriously, but (we take) more seriously the safety of our playing group and our staff.
"I have also been in touch with the Brussels-based world body, where Peter Cohen, formerly of Melbourne, is the sport's secretary general."
The Kookaburras won their first Olympic championship last week, upsetting The Netherlands 2-1 and capturing a record 17th gold for the Australian team.
Meanwhile, Hockey Australia has advertised winning coach Barry Dancer's position as well as that of David Bell, the coach of the Hockeyroos, who failed to win a medal in Athens.
Both Dancer and Bell were appointed to their respective jobs in 2001. Dancer was still in Europe and couldn't be contacted for comment.
"Their contracts are up at the end of the year, as is the case for the 12 high performance appointments with the national body," Adamson said.
Australia is increasingly unlikely to send its Olympic champion field hockey team to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy because of concerns over terrorism.
Hockey Australia chief executive Linden Adamson on Tuesday said he was alarmed at a lack of information from tournament organizers in Lahore over security issues.
A bomb exploded outside Australia's embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia, last week, heightening concern for Australian travelers.
"These acts clearly point to the fact that Australia is the target of extremists," Adamson said. "We must be doubly certain that we are taking athletes and support staff into areas that are safe. If it's not safe, we won't go. It's as simple as that."
Adamson said he wrote to organizers in Lahore two weeks ago and still hasn't received any details on security plans.
"If that information is not forthcoming, there is no way Australia will take part," he said.
FIH, the international federation, has asked all six competing nations to confirm their participation before Sept. 24. The six-nation tournament starts Dec. 4.
The FIH has reportedly indicated that Australia's Kookaburras will not be sanctioned if they withdraw from the elite tournament because of the Australian government's warning against non-essential travel to Pakistan.
The international federation reported on its Web site fihockey.org that India was willing to travel to Pakistan if either Australia or New Zealand, which qualified by placing sixth at last month's Athens Olympics, withdrew. India was seventh at the Olympics.
Hockey: NZ may pull out of Champions Trophy
The New Zealand men's hockey team may pull out of December's Champions Trophy in Pakistan.
The Australian gold medal-winning team is already considering withdrawing from the tournament due to possible terrorist threats.
New Zealand Hockey is now weighing up its options and will make a decision in the near future.
The governing body will seek advice from other sporting codes such as cricket which have travelled recently or investigated travelling to Pakistan.
Officials will also liaise with the Australian team and talk to the coaching staff and players about their feelings on the matter.
Pakistan on Sunday said extensive security arrangements would be in place for the six-nation Champions Trophy to be held in Lahore in December after Olympic champions Australia said they were considering pulling out of the event.
"There are no security problems in Pakistan and, through the International Hockey Federation, we have assured a foolproof security arrangement for all the foreign teams," Pakistan Hockey Federation secretary Brigadier Musaratullah Khan told AFP.
Australia hockey chief executive Lyndon Adamson said on Friday he had asked tournament organisers in Pakistan for details of their security plans after some team members expressed reservations about the December 4-12 tournament.
The Australian government recently renewed its warning to nationals to avoid all non-essential travel to Pakistan for security reasons.
New Zealand, who finished in the top six for the first time in the Athens Olympics, also indicated they may withdraw from the competition over fears of a possible terrorist attack.
In 2002 a New Zealand cricket team packed their bags and left the country after a suicide bomb blast outside their hotel in Karachi killed 15 people including 11 French naval staff.
"I think it's a negative advice from the Australian government," Khan said of the travel advisory.
"Australian players have played squash in Pakistan recently and their polo team is already here so why there are fears for hockey players," he asked, adding that he was confident Australian players would compete.
Pakistan has hosted the Champions Trophy, which it initiated in 1978, ten times.
It was originally scheduled to stage the 2001 edition which was relocated to the Netherlands in the wake of September 11 attacks on the United States and the subsequent war in neighbouring Afghanistan.
Australia have also previously pulled out of playing a cricket tri-series and a Test series in Pakistan on security grounds with both competitions later held on neutral grounds.
If Australia pulls out of the hockey competition, India will get a chance to play as they finished seventh in the Athens Olympics.
Khan said an eight-match home and away series against arch rivals India was intact.
India arrive in Pakistan on September 23 to play the first match in Karachi a day later. Other matches are scheduled for Quetta on September 27, Peshawar on September 29 and Lahore on October 1. The two teams will then play the remaining four matches at Indian venues.
AND FINALLY:
Australia threatens to boycott Pakistan hockey meet over terror fear
Australia
September 14, 2004
AFP via Yahoo! News
SYDNEY (AFP) - Australia said that it would boycott a six-nation men's field hockey tournament in Pakistan in December unless organizers respond to concerns about possible terrorist attacks. Hockey Australia chief executive Linden Adamson said Monday he was growing increasingly alarmed about security at the Champions Trophy tournament in light of a recent upsurge in terrorist threats against Australia.
He notably cited a suicide bombing against Australia's embassy in Jakarta last week and unconfirmed reports Tuesday that militants in Iraq (news - web sites) had kidnapped two Australian workers and were threatening to execute them.
"These acts clearly point to the fact that Australia is the target of extremists," Adamson said.
"We must be doubly certain that we are taking athletes and support staff into areas that are safe. If it's not safe, we won't go. It's as simple as that," he said.
Adamson sent a request to tournament organisers in Lahore at the start of the month seeking further details about security arrangements but said Tuesday that he had still not received a response.
"If that information is not forthcoming, there is no way Australia will take part," he said.
Australia's Olympic champion Kookaburras have never missed a Champions Trophy tournament in the 27-year history of the event. Tournament entries close on September 24.
Adamson said New Zealand officials shared Australia's concerns, despite not being a specific target of recent terrorist attacks.
New Zealand's cricketers cut short a tour of Pakistan in May 2002 after a bomb exploded outside their hotel in Karachi, killing 14 people.
The Kookaburras won their first Olympic championship in Athens, upsetting defending gold medalists the Netherlands 2-1
*India may make it to Champions Trophy *
A seventh place finish in the Athens Olympics was certainly not enough for India to earn a berth in this year's Champions Trophy hockey, but the side could still make it to the elite six-nation meet - albeit by default.
The Indian Hockey Federation officials are keeping their fingers crossed about the country's chances as two of the six teams in fray, Australia and New Zealand, were contemplating pulling out of the December 4-12 competition, to be held in Lahore, on security grounds.
Hockey Australia Chief Executive Lyndon Adamson has reportedly said that he had asked tournament organisers for details of their security plans after their government last month renewed its warning for Australians to avoid all non-essential travel to Pakistan because of possible terrorist attacks.
Similarly, Chief Eexecutive of the New Zealand Hockey Federation, Ramesh Patel, has said that NZHF would contact its Australian counterpart, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the International Hockey Federation (FIH) before taking a decision on whether to proceed to Lahore.
But IHF officials were not ready to comment anything on the developments even though they admitted that if any one of the teams pulled out, it would help India's cause.
"We have no information about any such development. So it would not be appropriate on our part to comment anything on the issue," IHF sources told PTI here today.
"But, of course, India will have a chance if any of the teams pull out," they added.
Re: Champions Trophy Hockey Tournament:4th-12th December, Lahore
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Goliko: *
27th Champions Trophy Hockey Tournament is to be played in Lahore from 4th till 12th Decemeber.
[/QUOTE]
Wow! I will be in Pakistan at that time. :)
Wow...good for you:)
NZ Hockey weighs options over Pakistan amid terrorist threat
15 September 2004
By DANIEL GILHOOLY
New Zealand won't be swayed if an increasingly-alarmed Australia pull out of the Champions Trophy men's hockey tournament.
Australia's participation at the tournament in Pakistan in December has become less likely because of acts of terrorism.
Last week's bombing of the Australian Embassy in Jakarta killed 11 people while there were unconfirmed reports yesterday of the kidnapping of two Australian workers in Iraq.
New Zealand Hockey Federation (NZHF) chief executive Ramesh Patel was not surprised to learn his Australian counterparts were even more nervous about attending the six-nation tournament in Lahore.
However, even though the trans-Tasman organisations had been sharing security information, Patel said an Australian withdrawal would not affect New Zealand's stance.
"You can understand their reason more so than ours for pulling out at the moment," Patel told NZPA.
"Whether we would follow their lead is not necessarily the case.
AdvertisementAdvertisement"We haven't stayed in negotiation with them on the basis that if they pulled out, we would pull out or anything like that."
Hockey Australia was concerned by a lack of security information from tournament organisers.
"These acts (of terrorism) clearly point to the fact that Australia is the target of extremists," Hockey Australia chief executive Linden Adamson told the Australian Associated Press.
"We must be doubly certain that we are taking athletes and support staff into areas that are safe. If it's not safe, we won't go. It's as simple as that."
NZHF received its tournament entry form yesterday and has until September 24 to confirm its entry.
Adamson wanted that deadline extended another week. He said there was "no way" Olympic champions Australia would take part if security plans had not been received this month.
Patel said NZHF was still weighing its options but said its initial stance of leaning towards going remained.
"We've got another 10 days until we make that final decision and we probably want to take as much time as possible to make that decision the correct one."
It will monitor the progress of the New Zealand Davis Cup team, who compete in Pakistan next month and will also take into account the other three visiting teams for the Champions Trophy - Spain, Germany and The Netherlands.
It is 20 years since New Zealand last contested the elite annual tournament. They earned a ticked by placing sixth at last month's Olympic Games.
The men's team have already had a close brush with terrorism this year.
The March bombing of four commuter trains in Madrid which killed 202 people took place while the team were contesting the Olympic qualifying tournament in that city.
New Zealand's cricketers cut short a tour of Pakistan in May 2002 after a bomb exploded outside their hotel in Karachi, killing 14 people.
Australia: Kookas want Pakistan tour
Australia
September 14, 2004
Fox Sports Australia
KOOKABURRAS captain Brent Livermore says the Olympic champions are keen to go to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy hockey tournament despite the national body's terrorism concerns.
Hockey Australia (HA) has yet to commit the national men's team to the six-nation tournament in December with the government advising against non-essential travel to Pakistan.
HA chief executive Linden Adamson said yesterday that last week's bombing outside the Australian embassy in Jakarta and reports of Australians being kidnapped in Iraq demonstrated Australia was a target for extremists.
.He has sought more information from organisers about security arrangements in Pakistan and said the team won't go if HA is not convinced it will be safe. **
Livermore said today the team wanted to go to Pakistan, a country he regarded as the true home of hockey.
*"I've been to Pakistan four times, and enjoyed great tournaments over there. We get huge support, huge crowds. It's just a real good eye opener. *
"The guys are all willing and really want to go. It's an opportunity to continue the good run."
However, Livermore said the decision was not up to the players.
"It's out of our hands. I don't think we'd have a say if we go or not," he said.
Livermore was speaking at the Sydney welcome home parade for the Australian Olympic team, with his team still basking in becoming the first Australian men's hockey side to win Olympic gold after 30 years ranked in the top four.
Livermore said he would be disappointed if they could not participate in Champions Trophy, an event in which the Kookaburras have won 20 medals since 1978.
*Defender Liam de Young shared his captain's desire to play in the hockey-mad country. *"I'd really like to go, hockey's really big over there," Young said**
Pakistan: PHF rejects pull out threats by Hockey Australia
Pakistan
September 17, 2004
Daily Times
LAHORE: The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has rejected the boycott threats by Hockey Australia over security concerns saying Pakistan Government will provide top security to all the participating teams of the Champions Trophy to be held here in December.
“We have assured all the six participating teams of the elite event that we are committed to provide foolproof security during the event,” said PHF secretary Musarrat Ullah Khan Thursday.
He termed it baseless that the participating teams may face a possible terrorist attack. “The impression being given in this regard is far from the reality, situation is good and ideal for holding any international sporting activity in Pakistan and we do not see any security problems,” he added.
He said the PHF was in constant touch with law enforcing agencies and they had assured that top class security would be provided to all the participating teams. “And we have conveyed this message to all the respective hockey federations,” he said.
“It is safe to have any sporting event in Pakistan and a number of high profile international activities in various disciplines were held last year and this year,” he said.
Musarrat referred to the participation of squash players in the World Championship held in Lahore last December, visit of cricket teams of South Africa, New Zealand, India and Bangladesh, Davis Cup tie between Pakistan and South Korea in Lahore, World Cup Polo Zone D Tournament in Lahore and Junior Asia Hockey Cup in Karachi earlier this year.
He said boycott threats were conveying wrong signals to the world. “The FIH is fully satisfied with the conditions in Pakistan and we are confident to stage the event in a befitting and peaceful manner,” he concluded. app
Pakistan Wants Australia to Be Punished for Hockey Withdrawal
Oct. 11 (Bloomberg) -- The Pakistan Hockey Federation said it will ask field hockey's ruling body to sanction Olympic champion Australia for withdrawing from the Champions Trophy in Pakistan because of security concerns.
I will very forcibly make a strong recommendation that we must start penalizing countries that pull out of tournaments at the last minute,'' federation secretary Musarratullah Khan said in an interview from Lahore.They should have showed solidarity and unity for the sport by coming here.''
Pakistan, hosting the six-nation annual tournament from Dec. 4-12, was due to be host in 2001 when the event was relocated to the Netherlands after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Pakistan's cricket has also suffered from the fallout of the war in bordering Afghanistan, as Australia, West Indies and New Zealand refused to tour there.
Australia will be replaced by Pakistan's neighbor India, which finished seventh at the Olympics in August. The Netherlands, Germany, New Zealand and Spain will also compete.
It is a small consolation that India is now playing,'' Khan said.It's a major disappointment the champions are not participating, even though they would have been escorted from the airport to their hotel and to all matches.''
The Australian decision, relayed to Pakistan today by the International Hockey Federation, followed months of dialogue between the Pakistan body and Australia's High Commission, Khan said. He added that Australia's squash team toured Pakistan in September and its polo team visited in December.
To contact the reporter on this story:
Richard Sydenham in London at [email protected]
To contact the editor responsible for this story:
James Ludden in London at [email protected]
Last Updated: October 11, 2004 11:21 EDT
*FIH asks India to send team to Champions Trophy *
India
October 12, 2004
Outlookindia.com
International Hockey Federation (FIH) today sent a formal invitation asking India to take part in this year's Champions Trophy hockey tournament in Pakistan following Australia's withdrawal from the event on security grounds.
In the communication, secretary general of FIH Peter L Cohen said since Australia declined to take part in the December 4 to 12 competition, India, which had finished seventh in the Olympics, "has now qualified for the event and accordingly we are inviting you to participate in the tournament." FIH's invitation came a day after Australia withdrew from the event citing security reasons.
Justifying the decision to pull out of the event, Hockey Australia said in a statement in Sydney today that "the advice for all Australians to defer travel to Pakistan leaves us with no choice but to withdraw." Meanwhile, IHF media advisor Anupam Ghulati said India has already sent a reply to FIH confirming that it would participate in the elite six-nation tournament. The last date for confirming participation was October 15.
"It's indeed a great news for us and we are immensely pleased. The heartening factor is that this is the third time in a row we are taking part in the meet, having played in the last two editions," Ghulati said.
"With India hosting the next one in 2005, it would make it four on the trot which is a record of sorts since we had never played the event so many time consecutively.
*FIH asks India to send team to Champions Trophy *
The schedule:
Dec 4:
New Zealand vs. Netherlands,
India vs. Spain,
Pakistan vs. Germany
Dec 5:
The Netherlands vs. India,
Germany vs. Spain,
New Zealand vs. Pakistan
Dec 6: Rest Day
Dec 7:
Spain vs. New Zealand,
Pakistan vs. the Netherlands,
India vs. Germany
Dec 8:
The Netherlands vs. Spain,
Germany vs. New Zealand,
Pakistan vs. India
Dec 9: Rest Day
Dec 10:
Spain vs. Pakistan,
New Zealand vs. India,
the Netherlands vs. Germany
Dec 11: Rest Day
Dec 12:
5th vs. 6th position,
3rd vs. 4th position,
the final
MCT: New Zealand Hockey team to arrive in Pak on Nov 22
New Zealand
October 30, 2004
PakTribune.com, Pakistan
The New Zealand Hockey team would arrive on November 22 to participate in the 26th men's Hockey Champions Trophy to be held from December 4 in provincial metropolis at National Hockey Stadium.
According to Pakistan Hockey sources, five teams from abroad would participate in the event of Hockey Champions Trophy.Referring to the early arrival of New Zealand Hockey Team, the sources said that the team would hold practice to ensure its success in the event.
is it at all possible for anyone to broadcast the hockey games? havent watched hockey in ages...
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by avid: *
is it at all possible for anyone to broadcast the hockey games? havent watched hockey in ages...
[/QUOTE]
Mostly likely it will be up on PTV and you can try it @ www.ptvvision.com
Inshalla Pakistan will play their best, perhaps a reflection of the 80s team
Correction its…
http://www.pakistanvision.com/
i think they stopped broadcasting live things
New Zealand brush aside security fears during Champions Trophy
Thu Nov 25, 1:54 AM ET South Asia - AFP
LAHORE, Pakistan (AFP) - New Zealand hockey coach Kevin Towns dismissed security fears in Pakistan as the Kiwis arrived here for next month's six-nation Champions Trophy tournament."We are happy to be here and on arrival it has been transpiring that security plans we received from Pakistan are in place and the team is relaxed to play good hockey," Towns told reporters after team training on Wednesday.
Three bomb blasts in Pakistan's central Punjab province, of which Lahore is the capital, forced Olympic champions Australia to pull out last month. Pakistan was scheduled to host the event in 2001 but it was relocated to Rotterdam in the Netherlands after the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States and security fears in the region."We have been given perfect security and hope it remains the same," the coach said.
New Zealand had also shown concerns before deciding to play the tournament."Obviously we monitored the situation and got advise from our foreign office. After the first practice session we are now settled to show our best in the event," said Towns, who is in his second tenure as coach since 1992.New Zealand, who finished sixth at the Athens Olympics, take on defending champions the Netherlands in their opening match on December 4 in the 26th edition of the event which runs here until December 12. Hosts Pakistan, world champions Germany, India and Spain are the other four teams in the Champions Trophy.
Towns said his side was fast developing. "The team has developed well in the last four years and ours was the only team which gave Netherlands a tough time in the Olympics." New Zealand finished fifth the last time they featured in Champions trophy held in Karachi 10 years ago. They finished fourth in the inaugural event held in Lahore in 1978 and sixth in the 1983 event, also held in Karachi.Three players -- Simon Towns, Phillip Burrows and James Nation -- will join the squad in the next couple of days as they are playing league hockey in Britain and the Netherlands respectively. Towns said he hoped for a top four finish for his side. "Obviously its a tough event and I think the Netherlands and Pakistan are the teams who have the best chance to win, and for my team I hope a top four finish."
Sorry If I am being rude . But these Australian (sports authority people) are Coward A$$ , Something wanna be mo fos ...
Sorry guys but cant hold it ...............