Paris Olympics 2024: Hockey is set to be played on watered pitches for one final time in Olympics. Paris Olympics in 2024 will see the sport being played on the currently used surface for the final time. The sport is all set to move on to a greener and non-watered pitch in the coming years. The watered surface, which is widely used in Hockey currently, came into existence at the 1976 Montreal Olympics. 48 years later, the sport is set to witness yet another major change in the playing surface, as confirmed by the sport’s governing body, FIH. Follow Hockey News and LIVE updates on InsideSport.IN
Paris Olympics 2024: Hockey to witness big change in playing surface as Paris Olympics set to mark the end of watered pitches – Check Out
The plans to move to a new surface was confirmed by FIH’s Sport and Development Director, Jon Wyatt. Speaking to the Times of India, he said, “The 2024 Paris Olympic Games hockey tournament will be the last to be played on a watered turf.”
“Good progress has been made by a number of hockey turf manufacturers in the development of new turfs that do not require any watering. But aim is to maintain the performance levels required for elite hockey,” said Wyatt.
The FIH had already seen a trial with the non-watered turfs during the Hockey5s event in Lausanne. The event was held in June last year. Further trials will be taking place during the course of this year and the next year. As per reports, the 2024 FIH Hockey5s World Cup will also be played on a non-watered turf.
The 2028 Los Angeles Olympics will be the first big event to use the new non-watered surface. The FIH aims to give teams four years to prepare playing on the new surface before the Los Angeles games.
It is believed that a Hockey pitch requires water to provides the lubrication for the smooth movement of the ball. But the FIH has taken a decision to conserve the water. Hence the body has come up with the solution of playing on non-watered surfaces.
However the sport is not set to move completely to the non-watered surface. A lot of countries have invested in installing new Astro turf pitches. According to Wyatt, there will be a number of years where both watered and non-watered pitches will be used for elite hockey.
“We fully understand the investment made to install new turfs. Therefore there will be no requirement to replace watered turfs immediately,” he added.
John Wyatt is currently in India for the Hockey World Cup 2023 that is taking place in Odisha. The tournament is moving into the business end as the teams are battling for a spot in the quarterfinals. The final group stage matches of this edition is currently underway on Friday, 20th January 2023.
