Hockey ACT: The refurbishment of the National Hockey Centre in Canberra has been completed in readiness for the 2005 Samsung Hockey Champions Trophy.
The Centre is now one of the best hockey training and competition venues in the world. Facilities at the Centre now include three ÔÇ£wetÔÇØ synthetic surface fields, an indoor hockey stadium, a fully equipped 555m┬▓ gymnasium, a suite of function rooms and media centre, meeting rooms, bars, sports store, grandstands, and offices.
The surface used on the main pitch and the warm-up pitch is the latest Poligras synthetic surface supplied by Sports Technology International. The surface and the rest of the facilities meet the stringent technical requirements for events imposed by FIH.
The refurbished centre was officially recommissioned by the Chief Minister for the
The refurbishment cost more than $6m and was largely funded by the ACT Government. Supplementary funding was provided by the Commonwealth Government's Regional Partnership Program.
At the same time, Senator Gary Humphries officially opened the new ÔÇ£Australia LoungeÔÇØ corporate centre and function.
The 2005 Samsung Hockey Champions Trophy tournament is the largest women's sporting event ever held exclusively in
ÔÇ£We are extremely pleased with our world class facilities. Hockey is still unique in Canberra in that we are the only field sport that is able to bring Australia's national teams the Kookaburras and the Hockeyroos to Canberra to play the world's other top level teams,ÔÇØ Hockey ACT President, Henny Oldenhove, said.
ÔÇ£We now have a tremendous venue where we can present exciting matches in an excellent venue. I would like to congratulate our officials and the builders GA Anderson & Son who have successfully managed this project.
ÔÇ£Our next ambition is to make hockey a ÔÇÿsignature sport' for
