The London 2012 Organising Committee (LOCOG) has unveiled the Hockey Centre's first blue and pink pitch, and also revealed that a yellow ball will be used during an Olympic Hockey competition for the first time.

Based on the Olympic Park, the Hockey Centre will stage Olympic Hockey and the Paralympic 5-a-side and 7-a-side Football competitions, hosting over 780,000 spectators in the process.

To reflect the colours of the Games, the playing field area will be London Blue in colour - providing high levels of contrast with the yellow ball - and the pitch surrounds coloured London Pink.


David Luckes, Head of Sport Competition at LOCOG, said: "We are delighted with how the main pitch at the Hockey Centre looks. The blue and pink pitch combined with the yellow ball will not only make following the ball easier, it also has a fantastic London 2012 feel.

"The player feedback has been excellent and we will continue to work together to ensure the pitches are perfect for the Games next year."

London 2012 will be the first time both Olympic Hockey and Paralympic Football are played on a different colour pitch to the traditional green.

Alex Danson, from the Great Britain women’s hockey squad, said: "Coming in to the Olympic Park makes everything very real and the excitement is really building within the squad. The pitch is great to play on; it's really quick and true, and enables us to play with confidence."

(CD/GK)