Hockey: NZ to host pre-Olympic tournament

New Zealand will host one of three men's hockey Olympics qualifying tournaments in 2008 at North Harbour.

Hockey New Zealand said today the tournament was likely to be held in February, 2008, and would be contested by six teams.

The winner of the tournament would qualify for the Olympics.

Two equivalent tournaments would be held around the same time in Japan and Chile, to find the other two qualifiers for the 12-strong Olympic tournament.

The remaining nine places are decided through continental qualifiers, and by world rankings.

- NZPA