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Mr. Peter L Cohen, FIH Hon. Secretary General, has informed John Green, FHC President and International Hosting Champion, this morning that the FIH Executive Board has awarded Field Hockey Canada and Field Hockey British Columbia the right to host the Women?s Olympic Qualifier in Vancouver in 2008. The tournament will be held from 16-27 April 2008.

Field Hockey Canada and Field Hockey British Columbia presented Canada?s bid to host the FIH Women?s Qualifying Tournament for the XXIXth Olympic Games last February. Canada's successful bid book was prepared by Judy Broom, Sue Jameson, Suzzanne Nicholson and Matthew Coyne from Tourism Vancouver.

Field Hockey Canada?s International Hosting Plan, with the Olympic Qualifier a critical element, is aimed at bringing international hockey back to Canada on a regular basis, generating greater interest and ultimately opportunities for the development of the game and our athletes. Since its implementation Canada held Vanco! uver 4 Nations (men and women) 2003, the first FIH event to be held in Canada in many years, followed by the 2004 PAHF Men?s Pan American Cup and in December 2005, will host the 3rd Pan American Indoor Cup.

The hosting of an FIH World Level event in North America will result in significant promotional opportunities for hockey in one of the FIH?s target markets for the development and promotion of the game.

The organizing and hosting expertise exists in Vancouver to stage an event of the highest international standard. This hockey expertise will be supplemented by additional volunteers seeking opportunities to test their skills prior to the 2010 Olympic & Paralympic Winter Games.

As well, a new competition field of play at the University of British Columbia will ensure the athletes have optimum conditions to perform their best.

Finally, the beautiful city of Vancouver - host of the 2010 Olympic & Paralympic Winter Games - will offer our Organizing Committe! e increased opportunities to make this hockey event a memorabl! e experi ence for both the competing teams as well as visiting spectators from around the world. The athletes, as they pursue their dream of qualifying for Beijing, will feel the excitement of being in a city preparing to host their winter peers just 21 months later.

We are very excited about the opportunity to host the Women?s Olympic Qualifier and are confident we will be able to stage an Olympic class event in Vancouver.

Johh Green, President, Field Hockey Canada

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