India won their third consecutive Olympic gold medal in men's hockey by defeating hosts Germany 8-1 in the final of the 1936 Olympics in Nazi Berlin, Germany. Image credit: X/@WeAreTeamIndia
The word “hockey” comes from the French “hocquet,” meaning shepherd's crook, a reference to the curved shape of the hockey stick. The sport dates back to ancient times, with early forms played in Egypt around 4,000 years ago, and variations emerging in what is now Ethiopia (1000 BCE) and Iran (2000 BCE).
According to numerous museums, the sport was also enjoyed in various forms by the Romans, Greeks and Aztecs. Modern hockey as we know it began to take shape in England in the mid-19th century, when the Hockey Association was founded in 1886 and the rules of the game were standardized.
Hockey is a gender-neutral sport that boasts 30 million players worldwide, of which 51% are female and 49% are male. Its core elements include speed, skill and fun, and it requires endurance and strong coordination.
What are the rules of hockey?
A typical hockey game consists of four periods of 15 minutes each, totalling 60 minutes.
Each team will be made up of 11 players, including a goalkeeper, fullback, midfielder and forward.
Substitutions are allowed at any time and teams can even play without a goalkeeper temporarily. The objective is to score goals, with ties in Olympic pool matches being broken into draws and knockout matches being decided by penalties.
Field hockey was originally played on natural grass but has transitioned to artificial turf for a faster pace of play. The field is watered to increase the ball's speed. Players use a hooked stick to manipulate and hit a hard ball; only the flat side of the stick can make contact.
Touching the ball with the hands or feet (except by the goalkeeper) will result in a penalty, which can be a green, yellow or red card.
What is the history of hockey in the Olympics?
Hockey made its Olympic debut in 1908 and has been a regular Olympic sport since 1928, with exceptions in 1912 and 1924. Women's hockey was introduced at the 1980 Moscow Games.
Countries such as India, Pakistan, Australia, New Zealand and Great Britain have historically excelled in the sport. India and the Netherlands have been particularly successful, with India winning eight gold medals and the Netherlands winning a total of nine Olympic medals, including four gold medals.
Other countries such as Argentina, Germany, Spain, France and Belgium have also risen up the international rankings, making hockey a truly global phenomenon.
Who is the current Olympic champion?
Men's: Belgium
Women: Netherlands
When and where will hockey be played at the Paris Olympics?
Hockey at the Paris Olympics will begin with men's and women's group matches on July 27. The competition will move to a knockout format on August 4, with the gold medal matches taking place on August 8 and 9. The matches will be played at the Yves du Manoir Stadium.
Find us on YouTube
subscribe
