Hockey: NZ's path to Olympics confirmed

New Zealand's smoother road to the Olympics has been confirmed by the international hockey federation (FIH).

The FIH last year said that two teams each from Oceania would be granted direct qualification to the 2012 London Games, in accordance with the Olympic qualification process.

This meant that New Zealand, whose toughest opponents in the region are Australia, were likely to qualify via the Oceania Cup rather than from one of several qualifying tournaments early in 2012.

But the change also meant there was one less spot available for a European country to qualify, triggering appeals to the decision.

However, the FIH has confirmed that Oceania would keep its second quota allocation for the London 2012 Olympics.

In previous years, only one quota has been available for Oceania, resulting in the Black Sticks men's and women's teams often having to go to qualification tournaments in the year of the Olympics.

This year, the top two teams from the Oceania Cup in Australia in early October will qualify for the London Olympics.

The Azlan Shah Tournament during May in Malaysia is the next major event for the Black Sticks men, before they go to England for a Four Nations turnament in July.

- NZPA