Rotterdam to host Champions Trophy

The 23rd men’s Champions Trophy will be held in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, on the scheduled dates from November 3 to 11.

The event will take place at HC Rotterdam’s brand new NLG24million, 8,000-seater facility, which opened in August and will be the first world level event at the venue.

The Pakistan Hockey Federation and International Hockey Federation have mutually agreed to withdraw the event from Lahore, due to the security fears in Pakistan following the terrorist attacks in the United States. A contingency plan was put in place by the FIH, where bids to stage the event were invited from participating nations. The Australian and Dutch hockey associations both submitted proposals to hold the event during the originally scheduled dates.

FIH honorary secretary-general Peter Cohen said: "We’re delighted that, despite the short notice given, we were afforded the luxury of choosing between two excellent bids. It is a pity that the event has to be moved from Pakistan, but this is obviously beyond the control of both the PHF and FIH. However, we are extremely confident that the Dutch Hockey Association will deliver a superb festival of hockey, consistent with the hockey world’s expectations of the Champions Trophy."

The FIH International final coaching seminar, originally scheduled to take place alongside the Champions Trophy in Lahore, will now also be staged at Rotterdam.