USA and Mexico Square Off for Final Pan-Am Spot on Sportexe Synthetic

March 7th, 2007

DEVONSHIRE, Bermuda. March 7, 2007 - The Bermuda National Sports Centre located in Devonshire will play host to the Pan American Games field hockey qualifier with the USA men’s national team facing off with Mexico for the final spot at this summer’s Pan Am tournament in a best-of-three qualifying series beginning Thursday.

Both teams will meet in matches March 8-11 with the winner joining Argentina, Canada, Chile, Cuba, Netherlands Antilles, Trinidad & Tobago and host Brazil at the Pan American Games, July 15-25 in Rio de Janeiro. The Pan Am Games serve as the continental qualifier for the Olympic Games with the winner of the competition earning the continents automatic berth in Beijing in 2008.

The BNSC, which houses the only facility dedicated to field hockey in Bermuda, features the Sportexe synthetic turf system specifically designed for field hockey and "approved" by the F餥ration Internationale de Hockey (FIH). Sportexe is also the official synthetic turf provider for the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA).

“What is achieved when you combine a world class tourism destination and a world class field hockey facility? You make available a destination that field hockey enthusiast from around the globe will flock to," said Bermuda Hockey Federation Vice President Grainne Sweeney. "The National Sports Centre through building the hockey playing facility with Sportexe engineering has enabled Bermuda to now be seriously looked upon by the outside world as world class sports destination. Bermuda, its people and the National Sports Centre should be very proud by its achievements to date and long may their hard work and vision continue.”

The winner will not only advance to the Pan Am Games, but would also keep alive the team’s Olympic qualifying hopes. Teams placing 2nd-5th at the Pan Am Games will earn spots in one of three six-team Olympic Qualifying Tournaments in 2008. The winners of each of the qualifying tournaments will advance to the Olympic Games.

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