The Tokyo Olympics will begin with the Opening Ceremony on Friday July 23. This will be the prelude to what every nation and every athlete hopes will be a safe and successful event.
Field hockey was first played for men’s teams at the Summer Olympics in 1908, but it was not until 1980 that a competition for women’s teams was introduced.
The Australian men’s hockey team, the Kookaburras, has an amazing record at the Olympics in recent times, being the only Australian team in any sport to receive medals at the last six Summer Olympic Games. The Kookaburras first played at the Olympics in 1956, and have won 9 Olympic medals in total from 16 appearances – 1 Gold, 3 silver and 5 bronze. Having just regained the #1 World ranking, the Kookaburras will be keen to show what they can do and will be hoping to bring home that elusive Gold Medal.
The Hockeyroos played their first Olympic game in 1984 and have since been one of Australia’s most successful sporting teams. They have won three Olympic gold medals and finished fourth on one occasion. World Cup Gold Medals and Commonwealth Games Gold Medals have seen the Hockeyroos crowned Australia’s Team of the Year five times and they were unanimously awarded Best Australian Team at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games.
The Hockeyroos FIH ranking is currently #4, behind Netherlands, Argentina and Germany, but recent performances in the Trans Tasman fixture against New Zealand will see them hoping to improve on this.
The Kookaburras will open the Olympic hockey tournament on July 24 against hosts Japan (FIH rank #15), with the Hockeyroos taking on Spain (FIH rank #7) in their first match on July 25.
Channel 7 will broadcast all Hockeyroos and Kookaburras matches at the Tokyo Olympics LIVE. All matches will be streamed on 7Plus, with some matches to be possibly shown on the main Channel 7 network or 7Mate (details will be released by Channel 7 throughout the Games).