General introduction
(www.athens2004.com)
Updated: 2004-07-29 10:35

Hockey, or field Hockey, is a very popular sport. Men and women, regardless of age, play Hockey for recreational reasons. However, in high-level competition, athletes must develop good physical condition, team spirit and concentration in order to be successful.

A Hockey game is played between two teams, of 11 players each. A game is divided into two 35-minute periods, with a 10-minute interval in between. Each team tries to score as many goals as possible in the opposite team’s goal post.

There are two Hockey disciplines: indoor Hockey, which is held in an indoor venue, and outdoor Hockey, which is held in an outdoor venue. Only outdoor Hockey is included in the Olympic Games competition schedule.

Hockey games are usually conducted on grass. At high-level competitions though, like the Olympic Games, Hockey is played on synthetic surfaces.

ATHENS 2004 Hockey

Hockey will be held on two different pitches at the Olympic Hockey Centre within the Helliniko Olympic Complex. The competition will be held over 14 days, from 14 to 27 August. A total of 352 athletes (12 men’s teams and 10 women’s teams) will take part in the 2004 Olympic Games competition. Athletes will be able warm up on a warm-up pitch, situated within the Helliniko Olympic Complex and train on a training pitch, situated