Muscat: The new-look trophies of the FIH Hockey 5s World Cup 2024 was unveiled at a colourful function at Al Mouj Walk Way on Saturday.
The function was held under the auspices of Basil bin Ahmed al Rawas, Undersecretary for Sports and Youth at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth.
Other dignitaries present included Sayyid Idris al Busaidy, Director General of Finance and Administration at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, Oman Hockey Association (OHA) Chairman Dr Marwan bin Juma Al Juma, OHA officials and members of the organising committee of the Hockey5s World Cup.
Oman’s newly-built state-of-the-art hockey stadium at Al Amerat will play host to the first edition of men’s and women’s FIH Hockey5s World Cup matches from January 24 to 31, 2024.
On January 24, the 16 women’s teams from around the world will compete to become the first ever Hockey5s World Champions.
The men will follow, on January 28, for another four days of intense competition.
“This is an exciting start to the final build-up for the FIH Hockey5s World Cup. The men’s and women’s trophies are unveiled here today and the organising committee along with the Oman Hockey Association will not spare any efforts to promote this great event to be hosted by the Sultanate of Oman,” Dr Marwan bin Juma Al Juma, OHA Chairman said.
“The trophy will have a tour around Oman, passing to public avenues, malls and schools to introduce the community to the great spectacle of hockey,” Dr Marwan added.
The trophy is commissioned by the world hockey governing body FIH with its headquarters in Switzerland. It is made on the shape of Hockey5s World Cup and represents modern Oman with its edgy curves.
Oman’s men’s and women’s hockey captains posed with the chief guest and the OHA chairman along with the men’s and women’s Hockey5s World Cup trophies and mascots to kick-start the exciting run-up to the global showdown of hockey.
The organising committee hopes to attract the hockey lovers and general public to the World Cup which will have a minimal ticket price of OMR1 to enjoy the matches.