Women's Olympic qualifier inaugurated

MILTON KEYNES, MARCH 24. In a short indoor ceremony last evening, the FIH President, Mr. Juan Angel Calzado, inaugurated the women's hockey Olympic qualifying event.

The England Hockey Association President, Ms. Monica Pickersgill, welcomed the 10 participating teams and assured them that the prevailing cold, wet and windy weather was unusual for an English spring, but the welcome extended to them was certainly a lot warmer.

Mr. Calzado took the stage to welcome the players on behalf of the FIH and to encourage them to make an effort towards ``fair play'' that was expected of the hockey community. He expressed regret that only five teams would go to the Sydney Olympic Games and wished those that made it good luck.

For those who don't make the cut, he offered the advice to try harder as the FIH was working to ensure that 12 women's teams would make up the women's hockey competition at the Athens Games in four years time. There would be more places available at the next Olympic qualifier if this was the case.

The Great Britain captain, Sue Chandler, urged the players to ``go out there and do what has to be done'' before handing bouquets of flowers to the captains of each team.

Ten teams are taking part in the qualifier event, and the top five will make the grade.

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