New Zealand will host one of the three qualifying men's hockey tournaments for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
The tournament is likely to be staged in February 2008, and will be contested by six teams. The winner will qualify for the Games.
Two equivalent tournaments will be staged around
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.
The qualifying format has changed since the 2004 Olympics when one qualifying tournament of 12 teams was held in Spain.
The change was designed to allow more countries an opportunity to play in the Olympics.
Hockey New Zealand chief executive Ramesh Patel said the qualifying tournament in New Zealand was "very good news for the sport".
"It gives us a home advantage which is crucial and while it will be expensive to stage, some of that will be accounted for by the Black Sticks not having to travel."
Patel said bidding to host the tournaments was extremely competitive and that 14 countries had put forward proposals.
Now, internally, the three regional associations - North Harbour, Wellington and Christchurch - have been asked to apply by December 1 to host the qualifiers.
- NZPA
