Factbox on hockey

(Reuters) - Factbox on hockey at the August 8-24 Beijing Olympics:

HISTORY

Forms of hockey were played in ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome as well as by the Aztecs. The game was standardized by the British at the end of the 18th century, primarily as a school sport.

It was included in the Olympics as a men's sport for the first time at the 1908 Games in London. Women's hockey was added in Moscow in 1980.

The sport's governing body, the International Hockey Federation, was founded in 1924 and now has 112 members.

The outdoor version of the game was traditionally played on grass but synthetic pitches are now used for top-level competitions.

OLYMPIC QUALIFICATION

Men's - China, New Zealand, Netherlands, South Korea, Canada, Germany, South Africa, Spain, Belgium, Pakistan, Britain and Australia

Women's - China, Germany, Argentina, Spain, South Africa, Netherlands, Britain, New Zealand, United States, South Korea, Australia and Japan

2004 CHAMPIONS

Men: Australia

Women: Germany

OLYMPIC PROGRAMME August 22 - Women's final

August 23 - Men's final

VENUE

Olympic Green Hockey Stadium

OFFICIAL WEBSITE

www.fihockey.org

(Editing by Greg Stutchbury)