The Visa International Invitational Hockey Tournament, which began here today and will run until Sunday (May 6), will see Britain's men's team pit their wits against the number world one ranked side Australia, as well as Germany, whom they lost to in last year's Champions Trophy.

Eight-time Olympic champions India, who return to the Games after missing out on Beijing 2008, complete the hockey line-up as they continue preparations ahead of London 2012, where they hope to win gold for the first time since 1980.

Danny Kerry's British women's team take on South Korea and China, whom they comfortably beat earlier this year in the Champions Trophy, before losing in the final to hosts Argentina, who are also in London for this week's event.

Adjacent to the Riverbank Arena at Eton Manor, the Wheelchair Tennis International tournament gets underway on Thursday (May 3) with the Netherlands' Esther Vergeer looking to extend her nine-year unbeaten run in the women's tournament.

She will come up against rising British star Jordanne Whiley, while in the men's singles a host of British competitors, headed by Gordon Reid, will be joined by Athens 2004 gold medal winner Robin Ammerlaan.

In the quad competition Britain's Peter Norfolk, a double Paralympic champion, will start as the favourite.


The Water Polo International competition begins at the Water Polo Arena (pictured above) on the same day, with three of the world's top women's teams – the United States, Hungary and Australia, joining hosts Britain.

Australia, who won the first ever women's water polo gold on home soil in Sydney 12 years' ago, the United States, winners of a medal in all three Olympic tournaments to date – though never gold – and Hungary, one of Europe's top teams and bronze medallists at this year's European Championships, will give Britain a severe test as the hosts prepare for their first ever Olympic appearance.

The hockey, wheelchair tennis and water polo all run until Sunday (May 6), while on Friday (May 4) the Olympic Stadium will host its test event as the British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) Outdoor Athletics Championships take place until May 7, with the Disability Athletics Challenge also getting underway at the 80,000 capacity arena next Tuesday (May 8).

There will be a special event on Saturday (May 5) night at the Olympic Stadium, with an evening of athletics and entertainment, featuring a host of celebrities.

Boccia will also be tested with an invitational tournament at the warm up venue for the Basketball Arena.


Speaking to journalists assembled at the temporary Riverbank Arena which will stage the Olympic hockey tournament, London 2012 chief executive Paul Deighton (pictured above) said: "With twelve weeks to go until the Opening Ceremony this is a big and important week for us with a very extensive programme of test events.

"Here we are at the Riverbank Arena, a beautiful example of what we are thinking about in legacy because this is a temporary stadium and after the Games we will essentially integrate it with the tennis facilities at Eton Manor, providing a fantastic legacy for hockey.

"On Saturday the Park will see something like 70-80,000 people so it is a really important test for us, to see not just how individual venues work...but we will also see how you operate the park as an overall zone."

Quizzed by insidethegames on his favourite Olympic Park venue, Deighton had no hesitation in choosing the Riverbank Arena.

"I love this venue," he said.

"In the early days of selling tickets people were saying 'there's a lot of competition for tickets, which one should we go for?'

"I told people in the United Kingdom to go to hockey, it gets you into the Olympic Park for the experience...an open air venue to appreciate the overall atmosphere, lots of different sessions and we have two good teams so there will hopefully be some great domestic interest."

Some 250,000 spectators have watched the action at the London Prepares test event series to date, and a further 140,000 are expected this week.

Over 11,000 workers will be on the park this week for the test events, to ensure they run smoothly.

There is also a test event taking place outside the Olympic Park, with the Para-archery at the Royal Artillery Barracks from tomorrow to Sunday (May 6).


Next Wednesday (May 9) the Sainsbury's School Games come to the Olympic Park, at the Olympic Stadium (pictured above), the Velodrome, Aquatics Centre and Basketball Arena – a boost for London 2012, who have pledged to inspire a generation through this summer's Olympic and Paralympic Games.

London 2012 chairman Sebastian Coe said: "We are now in the final stages of the testing programme.

"Testing the Olympic Park and its operations is a hugely important part of our plans."

London 2012's director of sport, Debbie Jevans, added that this week's preparations constituted "one of the most comprehensive testing programmes for an Olympic and Paralympic Games".

"The coming days are the big final test of our Olympic Park operations and sporting venues, and also our workforce," she added.

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