The opening day of hockey at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the historic Yves du Manoir Stadium in Colombes, France, was filled with great hockey moments, great goals, great saves and a fantastic atmosphere in a packed stadium, despite the rain.
The day was also attended by top officials from the Belgian and Dutch royal families.
In the first match on Pitch 2, reigning men's Olympic champions Belgium took on Ireland and won 2-0 to secure the tournament's first three points, much to the delight of their Majesties King Philippe and Queen Mathilde.
The second match, played on Pitch 1, was also highly entertaining, with no less than eight goals scored as the Netherlands (Men) beat South Africa (5-3). Their Majesties King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands were in attendance.
FIH President Tayyab Ikram said: “It is a real honour to welcome Their Majesties the King and Queen of Belgium and the Netherlands today. Their Majesties' support for sport in general and hockey in particular means a lot to us and to the global development of hockey. On behalf of the FIH, I would like to express our sincere gratitude to Their Majesties. Their Majesties' attendance is a further testament to the status of hockey in our countries, which will co-host the FIH Hockey World Cup, a joint women's and men's event, in two years' time.”
Throughout the day, the arena showcased some of the best hockey performances. “Congratulations to the players who have delivered the best promotion of hockey with their incredible talent and attitude!” added the FIH President.
