The World Hockey Cup 2006 will be held at the Warsteiner HockeyPark, Mönchengladbach, Germany from September 6 to September 17. The current cup holder is Germany.
The Hockey World Cup was instituted because of the determination of Pakistan's Air Marshal Nur Khan and India's Jimmy Nagarwalla, in a proposal to the FIH under the idea of Patrick Rowley, the first editor of World Hockey magazine. This idea was approved on October 26, 1969 and adopted by the Council at a meeting in Brussels on April 12, 1970. It was decided that the inaugrual World Cup would be held in 1971.
The first tournament was to be hosted by Pakistan, schelduled to be held in October 1971. Political issues intervened and Pakistan was surrounded by controversy when they invited India to compete in the tournament, just a few years after both countries had fought against eachother at war in 1965. In 1971, there was a civil war between West Pakistan and East Pakistan, which is known as the Bangladesh Liberation War. This led to the liberation of Bangladesh, but the circumstances in Pakistan were not stable.
Pakistanis were not satisfied with the invitation from India, as cricketer Abdul Hafeez Kardar led a campaign against India's participation in the Hockey World Cup, threatening to burn down the stadium if the Indian team played. Meanwhile, an Indian Airlines Fokker Friendship aircraft was hijacked to Lahore airport, where it was burnt. Pakistan also threatened that if India hosted the tournament, they would not be participating.
With Pakistan not being able to host the tournament under the violate ground and also the unsatisfication of Pakistani, FIH decided in March 1971 it was moved to Real Club de Polo grounds in Barcelona, Spain, consider a neutral and peaceful ground in Europe. [1>
Although twelve nations took part is the common number in tournament, however they are no permanent numbers of teams took part in the tournament as it was decided by FIH. The first tournament in 1971 was participated in by just ten nations, the only tournament which featured the fewest nations so far and won by Pakistan, the nations in war at that time. 1978 is the only time featured fourteen nations. The 2002 tournament featured sixteen nations, the most nations took part in World Cup history.
The tournament was held between the Summer Olympics season. As it own plan, the tournament held regularly every two years, the first three tournaments were follows the plan. 1978 is the only tournament held three years from the previous tournament. Since 1982, the tournament was held every four years.
Trophy
The hockey world cup trophy was created by Pakistan army from the Bashir Moojid's design and formally handed to President of FIH Rene Frank by Mr H.E Masood, the Ambassador of Pakistan in Belgium on March 27, 1971 in Brussels. The trophy stands 120.85 mm high and high blade base inlaid with ivory. It comprises a silver cup carrying an intricate floral design, surmounted by a globe in silver and gold depicting the world. On top of it is a ball and hockey stick, perfect in design and symmetry. The trophy when mounted on its ivory base stands 650 mm high when mounted on its ivory base and weighs 11,560 g. In other materials they used include 895 g of gold, 6815 g of silver, 350 g of ivory and 3500 g of teak wood
Posted on 8/26/2006 6:54:41 PM
