Frank Warren, one of the country’s best known sports promotors, has joined forces with the England Hockey Board to officially launch an exciting bid to bring the 2014 men and women’s hockey World Cups to London. If successful, it will be the first international event to be held in the Queen Eilzabeth Olympic Park following the 2012 Olympic Games.

A successful bid would lead the way as part of UK Sport’s ambitious programme to bring major events to the UK after 2012. The UK is already hosting the 2014 Commonwealth Games, the 2014 Ryder Cup and the 2015 Rugby Union World Cup and if the bid id successful, it will be only the second time that both the men’s and women’s hockey World Cups have been held together.

It would be an ideal opportunity for London to launch the new Lee Valley Hockey Centre legacy facility at Eton Manor. The current Lee Valley Hockey Centre’s standard 3000 seating capacity would be expanded to hold 10,000 spectators with two world class pitches, a supporters village and even management offices. Following the 2012 Games, the Centre will be used by a multitude of users from community groups, schools and clubs to international player for major championships.

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The 14 day event would comprise of 600 players from approximately 18 nations.

Sally Munday, Chief Executive of the England Hockey Board said, “The EHB’s desire to host the 2014 World Cups is part of a long term events strategy for hockey to help drive up the profile of our sport across the UK. Hosting the 2014 World Cups would provide another opportunity to engage with the 630,000 hockey ticket holders from London 2012 and we are working with the hockey community to prepare for a real increase in participation in our sport.”

Boris Johnson, Mayor of London also backed the bid: “Staging the Hockey World Cups at the new state of the art Lee Valley Hockey Centre in 2014 would be a major boost to the great sporting legacy we are striving to achieve following the 2012 Games. I’m fully behind the England Hockey Board’s bid and I’m certain it will inspire many more youngsters to become skilled players at our fantastic new facility in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.”

Kirsty Page, Sportsister
The Women’s Sports Magazine

Image credit: Ady Kerry/EHB