Remarks to media: Hockey World Cup - Australia v India
Transcript, E&OE
2 March 2010
I am very pleased to be here to not only help celebrate India’s hosting of the World Hockey Cup but also to celebrate the Australia-India friendship game.
This is the first occasion we will see Australia and India compete for the Ajit Pal - Charlesworth Cup.
Australia and India of course have got very strong and fine traditions in playing hockey. It is one of the things we share as two great nations.
Indeed, very much of the history of Australian hockey has been as a result of people coming from India teaching us their hockey skills.
One of the things I was very pleased to do in my last visit to India was to announce scholarships for Indian hockey players and Indian coaches to go to the Australian Institute of Hockey in Perth in Western Australia.
So, we are pleased that through hockey, a great sport, we can help build the strategic partnership between Australia and India.
We are looking forward very much to a great game tonight. Of course you will naturally expect that I will be barracking for Australia but most of all we want to see a great game between two great hockey playing nations.
We are looking forward to the friendship game and the first competition for the Ajit Pal - Charlesworth Cup. Thanks very much.
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