Olympics: Extra spots for Oceania a bonus for Hockey NZ

Photo / Brett Phibbs

Confirmation of second quota spots - men and women - for Oceania at the 2012 London Olympics has handed Hockey New Zealand an early and very welcome bonus.

The winners of next year's seventh Oceania Cup will take the first Olympic spot as Continental champions. Now the International Federation has guaranteed a second spot for Oceania.

Australia and New Zealand are hot favourites to fill those two places from the Oceania Cup although in the past other teams, including Fiji and Samoa, have played.

Assuming they will finish either first or second at the Cup - to be played in Australia late next year - Hockey NZ can now plan their 24-month Olympic preparation.

It also rules out any need to contemplate having to host one of the six Olympic qualifying tournaments, thus freeing up funds which can now go directly into team preparation.

"While we have yet to be formally notified of the quotas by FIH, as far as we are concerned we can plan accordingly," said HNZ chief executive Hilary Poole yesterday.

Poole confirmed that she had heard "unofficially" that France and Belgium had protested against the allocation of a second Oceania spot for the men (rather than a third spot for Europe) but says any such appeal would almost certainly fail given their current world rankings. Belgium are ranked 13th, France 17th while Australia are the top-ranked nation and New Zealand seventh.

"I know the Europeans voted against Oceania, but who would blame them. We still need to qualify through Oceania but it now seems we won't have to worry about going to or hosting a qualifying tournament."

New Zealand hosted a very successful tournament in 2008, beating Argentina in a pulsating final at North Harbour to claim their place at the Beijing Olympics.

"Getting more or less direct entry like this is an amazing boost. I have already asked our Black Sticks coaches Mark Hager and Shane McLeod to come up with a programme to take us through to London," said Poole.

"We are keen to get as many games against top six nations as we can."

Poole also welcomes FIH moves to establish a four-year international programme.

"We had already asked FIH to give us 18 to 24 months' notice of tournaments they want hosted. We have always been keen to do that but only if we have at least an 18-month lead-in."

THE HIGH ROAD

Automatic qualifying spots for 2012 Olympics

Men:

*Great Britain (hosts). Continental champions of Africa, Pan America, Asia, Europe and Oceania.

*Extra quota spots for Europe (two), Oceania (one). If Great Britain win EuroHockey Nations Championship a third spot will be allocated to Europe.

Women:

*Great Britain (hosts). Continental champions of Africa, Pan America, Asia, Europe and Oceania.

*Extra quota spots for Europe (one), Oceania (one) and Asia (one).

*Final places to be contested by 18 countries at qualifying tournaments in 2012 with three winners progressing.