The News International

From Khalid Hussain

MADRID, Spain: The International Hockey Federation (FIH) decided on Thursday to carry on with the Olympic Hockey Qualifiers here at the Club de Campo even as more than 180 people were killed in terrorist attacks on the city’s three train stations.

"The Spanish government has asked us to show solidarity with the people of Madrid by continuing with the event and has promised to institute extra security measures. FIH respects the Spanish government in its view and that the tournament should continue while taking appropriate measures to show respect for the Spanish people," said FIH President Els van Breda Vriesman in a statement issued to the media after a meeting of the federation here.

The FIH decision came after a meeting of the officials of the 12 participating teams in the competition. The Canadian officials raised some concern and according to the FIH they will be offered full assistance of the federation and the organising committee of the tournament to rearrange their travel plans if they wish to pull out of the event.

The media release said: "On the advise of the Spanish authorities and following agreement of all participating teams and officials, the tournament will continue." It was decided that a minute’s silence will be observed before all games and flags will be flown at half-mast as a sign of respect.

On the issue of the qualification of hosts Greece in this summer’s Olympic Games, the FIH president said that her federation has not been distracted by the issue. "The matter has been through a process that was agreed by the International Olympic Committee, FIH and the Hellenic Hockey Federation (Greek hockey federation). The decision by the HHF to appeal to the court of Arbitration for Sport is not something that can be allowed to affect this event. The HHF has presented its case to the CAS and we are confident that the original qualification process will be ratified."

However she added: "Whatever the outcome of the hearing, for the FIH the decision will be acceptable." The FIH President said that in the meantime she has sent a message to the Greek players urging them to keep training and playing to ensure that they are fully prepared if their appeal is upheld.

According to the FIH, the selection process for the 12 teams in the Athens field was fair though the Greeks have opposed it and have gone to the CAS in order to get automatic berths for their men’s and women’s team in Athens.

According to the FIH requirement, the Greeks were needed to qualify for the European Nations Cup which means that they should have been at least the 12th ranked team in Europe. Since the 1984 Olympics, host teams have always taken part in either the Continental Cups or the Continental Games with the exception of Greece.

Greece were give another chance to qualify for Athens last month but they lost their playoffs against Canada, the 12th-ranked team in the Olympic Qualifiers.

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