World hockey academy to come up in Dubai

Monchengladbach, Sep 12 (UNI) Hockey got a big boost today with its International body (FIH) and Dubai Sports City (DSC) signing a long-term partnership to set up a World Hockey Academy.

Announcing this in a media briefing here, CEO of the DSC, U Balasubramaniam said the academy, first of its kind in the world, would be located at a 5,000-seater facility that would be operational in the first quarter of 2008.

Though the functional structure of the academy is still being worked out, leading coaches from across the world will be hired to train youngsters at the academy that will also have a state-of-the-art gymnasium, swimming and sports medicine facility besides accommodation.

FIH president Els van Breda Vriesman said the Development Committee of the FIH would identify the youngsters for training at the academy and international tournaments would be held at the facility from time to time as part of the promotional activity.

She said the academy would be open to national and club teams preparing for major competitions.

''The central location of Dubai, connecting the northern and southern hemispheres makes it very accessible,'' Vriesman added.

President of the Dubai Sports City Khalid Al Zarooni said his city had already signed partnership agreements to set up football, golf, tennis and cricket academies.

''We have entered into partnerships with some of the world's biggest and best global brands to establish world class training centres of excellence - Manchester United Soccer Schools, Butch Harmon School of Golf, David Lloyd Tennis Academy and the International Cricket Council Global Cricket Academy,'' he said.

The DSC is part of the Dubailand project, a three-billion US dollar purpose-built city that is fast coming up on a 50-million square feet area with a 60,000 capacity multi-purpose outdoor stadium for football, rugby, track and field and other sports and non-sports events, apart from a 25,000-seater cricket satium and a football stadium with 5,000 seats.

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