FIH announces appointment of Polytan STI as the surface provider for the Rio 2016

New Delhi, October 31, 2014: The International Hockey Federation (FIH), in conjunction with the Rio 2016 Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, are pleased to announce the selection of Poligras® as the surface for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games hockey facilities.

The Poligras® synthetic hockey surfaces will be provided by Polytan STI, a Sport Group company. Following on from the success of the hockey pitches at the London 2012 Olympic Games, the two competition pitches, warm-up area and two training pitches in Rio 2016 will also feature the distinctive blue playing surface.

The hockey competition will take place at the Olympic Hockey Centre, in Deodoro Olympic Park, in the north of Rio de Janeiro. It will feature the 12 best men’s and the 12 best women’s teams from around the globe, with competition running from 6 – 19th August 2016. Qualification has already started, with India and Korea getting the first men’s and women’s spots respectively, via their victories at the recent 2014 Asian Games.

FIH CEO, Kelly Fairweather said, “I am delighted at the appointment of Polytan STI who with their expertise and experience will provide a top quality playing surface for the players. The blue turf at London 2012, made hockey one of the most talked about and broadcast sports of the 2012 Olympic Games. It adds to the spectator experience at the event and also off the field by enhancing online and TV viewing.”

Stephen Niven, CEO of Sport Group Asia Pacific, is excited about the announcement and Polytan STI’s involvement in the project and said, “As the first Olympic Games in South America, this tournament represents a significant milestone in sporting history. We are proud that Poligras pitches will play a vital role in making these Olympic Games a success”.

HI Press release