The International Hockey Federation (FIH) has designated marketing and event management company Commune Sports & Entertainment to assist in the organisation of the World Cup. The Indian Olympic Association and the Organising Committee Commonwealth Games 2010 Delhi have lent total support to ensure that the World Cup is organised in a befitting manner.

The redesigned Maj. Dhyan Chand National Stadium is fully operational and ready to stage the World Cup. The necessary technical arrangements, including the installation of video scoreboards and the goalposts, have been made. A number of volunteers, both sport-specific and general, have been identified and trained.

The security arrangements were reviewed last week by the International Security Liaison Group in a meeting with the representatives of the Heads of Missions of the 11 nations in India. There is a strong commitment from the authorities’ to implement robust security measures to ensure the safety of the teams and officials at all times. Delhi Police will keep the people at large informed.

As far as the sale of tickets is concerned, we are happy that it has been progressing well. Tickets have been made available online at http://specials.msn.co.in/sp10/hockey/ticket_prices.aspx and have been on sale in many Café Coffee Day and other outlets in the Capital. There has been brisk sale of tickets.

We are also happy that all those who have represented India in the Olympic Games hockey competition, members of the 1975 World Cup winning squad and Arjuna Award winning hockey players have been to come and watch the World Cup here.

We are sure that the Hero Honda FIH World Cup will be a resounding success.