Approximately 5 million of the 17 million people in the Netherlands are registered to one of the 35,000 sports clubs in the country. About two thirds of the population older than 15 years participates in sports weekly.
The Australia men's national field hockey team is one of the nation's most successful top-level sporting teams. They are the only Australian team in any sport to receive medals at six straight Summer Olympic Games (1992–2012). The Kookaburras placed in the top four in every Olympics between 1980 and 2012; in 2016, the Kookaburras placed sixth. They also won the Hockey World Cup in 1986, 2010 and 2014.
Floris Jan Bovelander is a former field hockey player from the Netherlands, who was a member of the Dutch national squad that won the gold medal at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. Six years earlier, at the Hockey World Cup in Lahore, where he scored nine times, he won the world title with the Dutch side at the expense of host nation Pakistan.
Ellen Marijn Hoog is a former Dutch field hockey player, who is regarded as one of the best Dutch hockey players of her generation.
Marc Lammers is a Dutch former field hockey player and head coach. In the past, he led the Spanish women's national team from 1999 to 2000 and the Dutch women's national team from 2000 to 2008. Under his guidance, the Dutch team won the silver medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece, and gold at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. Later he also coached the Belgian men's national team until 2014, with whom he became European vice-champion. As a player, he earned five caps for the men's team. Lammers played for sixteen years in the Netherlands' first division, Hoofdklasse, with HC Den Bosch, HC Tilburg and Oranje Zwart.
The India men's national field hockey team represents India in international field hockey competitions, and is governed by Hockey India. The team was formerly under the control of Indian Hockey Federation. India was the first non-European team to be a part of the International Hockey Federation. In 1928, the team won its first Olympic gold medal and until 1960, the Indian men's team remained unbeaten in the Olympics, winning six gold medals in a row. The team had a 30–0 winning streak during this time, from their first game in 1928 until the 1960 gold medal final which they lost. India also won the World Cup in 1975. India's hockey team is the most successful team ever in the Olympics, having won a total of eight gold medals – in 1928, 1932, 1936, 1948, 1952, 1956, 1964 and 1980. India also has the best overall performance in Olympic history with 83 victories out of the 134 matches played. They have also scored more goals in the Olympics than any other team. They are also the only team ever to win the Olympics without conceding a single goal, having done so in 1928 and 1956.
The Pakistan national field hockey team represents Pakistan in international field hockey. Having played its first match in 1948, it is administered by the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF), the governing body for hockey in Pakistan. It has been a member of the International Hockey Federation (FIH) since 1948 and was founding member of the Asian Hockey Federation (ASHF), which was formed in 1958. Pakistan is one of the most successful national field hockey teams in the world with a record four Hockey World Cup wins.
Luciana Paula Aymar is an Argentine retired field hockey player.
Johanna ("Janneke") Dorotheo Maria Schopman is a former Dutch field hockey player who played as a defender for Dutch club HC Den Bosch and the Netherlands national team. She is the head coach of the Indian women's national field hockey team
Alyson Regina Annan is an Australian field hockey coach and retired field hockey player, who earned a total number of 228 international caps for the Women's National Team, in which she scored 166 goals.
Chloe Naomi Rogers is an English field hockey player midfield and forward and London 2012 Olympic bronze medal-winner. She made her senior international debut for the England women's national field hockey team in November 2003 versus Japan at Chelmer Park, Chelmsford, Essex. She holds a World Cup bronze, a Champions Trophy silver and bronze along with two Commonwealth Games bronze medals as well as European Championship bronzes. She is also one of the leading indoor hockey players in the UK.
Colin Batch is a professional international field hockey coach and former international player from Australia. Batch is the head coach of the Australian Men's national hockey team the Kookaburras following his appointment on Tuesday 6 December 2016. He was the head coach of the New Zealand Men's national hockey team the Black Sticks between 2013 and 2016. Prior to this he was the head coach of the Belgium Men's national hockey team the Red Lions from 2010 to 2012. From 2001 to 2008 he was the assistant coach of the most successful Australian Men's national hockey team the Kookaburras in history. During this era Australia broke their Olympic hoodoo winning the gold medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics as well as bronze at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Silver at the 2002 and 2006 World Cups, Gold at the 2002 and 2006 Commonwealth Games and gold at the 2005 and 2008 Champions Trophies.
The Netherlands competed at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, People's Republic of China. This was announced in an official statement on the NOC*NSF website. In the statement they named the Olympic Games and the Paralympic Games as a highlight in sports to which a lot of sportspeople, coaches and the Dutch sports fans would look forward. The Netherlands aimed for a top 10 nations ranking in the Olympics as well as a top 25 ranking in the Paralympics; they ended up ranking 12th at the Games.
The men's field hockey tournament at the 2008 Summer Olympics was the 21st edition of the field hockey event for men at the Summer Olympic Games. It was held over a thirteen-day period beginning on 11 August, and culminating with the medal finals on 23 August. All games were played at the hockey field constructed on the Olympic Green in Beijing, China.
Marilyn Agliotti is a field hockey player from the Netherlands, having previously represented South Africa. After her move to the Netherlands and award of a Dutch passport, she represented the Dutch national team.
Jamie Dwyer is an Australian field hockey player. He currently plays for YMCC Coastal City Hockey Club in the Melville Toyota League in Perth, Western Australia. He also played for the Queensland Blades in the Australian Hockey League. He debuted for Australia as a junior player in 1995, and for the senior side in 2001. He has played over 350 matches for Australia and scored over 220 goals. He has represented Australia at the 2004 Summer Olympics where he won a gold medal and the 2008 Summer Olympics and 2012 Summer Olympics where Australia won bronze medals. He has also represented Australia at the 2006 Commonwealth Games where he won a gold medal and the 2010 Commonwealth Games where he also won gold. He has won silver medals at the 2002 Men's Hockey World Cup and the 2006 Men's Hockey World Cup. He won a gold medal at the 2010 Men's Hockey World Cup and the 2014 Men's Hockey World Cup. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest players to ever play the game.
Edward "Eddie" Clyve Ockenden is an Australian field hockey player. He plays in the midfielder and striker positions. He turned professional in 2008 and has played for teams in the Netherlands. He plays club hockey, having competed for a New Zealand team and Hobart, Tasmania side, North West Hobart Graduates (NWG). He also plays for the Tassie Tigers in the Australian Hockey League. He has represented Australia on the junior and senior level, earning a silver medal with the 2005 U21 team at the Junior World Cup.
Alexander Baart is a Dutch field hockey player of Belgian descent who plays as a defender or midfielder for Belgian club Antwerp.
Billy Pierre Bakker is a Dutch former field hockey player who played as a midfielder or forward for the Netherlands national team.
Tina Bachmann is a retired German field hockey player. She represented Germany in two editions of the Olympic Games, and also often played as a midfielder and an experienced central defender. Bachmann was also a member of the Germany women's national field hockey team who attained a great success in the mid and late 2000s, capturing three gold medals at the 2004 Summer Olympics, 2006 Women's Hockey Champions Trophy, and 2007 Women's EuroHockey Nations Championship.
