Pitch perfect

By Nicole Williams
A DANDENONG business is making a colourful mark in London.
Sports Technology International (STI) has won a bid to supply, install and maintain the eye-catching hockey pitches for the London 2012 Olympics.
The London 2012 Organising Committee (LOCOG) announced on Tuesday that the pitches would be blue, providing a contrast to the white ball and white lines and the pitch run-off areas would be vibrant pink.
STI representative Jill Long said it was ground-breaking for world hockey as it would be the first time an Olympic event would not be played on a green pitch.
“This is huge news, the biggest news in world hockey since the 1970s when synthetic hockey surfaces were introduced,” she said. “It means that we maintain the position as world leader of hockey surfaces.”
Advanced Polymer Technology Australasia, the manufacturing arm of STI, will manufacture the Poligras Olympia pitches and STI will build and maintain the surface at the Hockey Centre in London.
The surface and all of the materials are manufactured in Dandenong and will be exported directly to London.
Advanced Polymer Technology managing director Dr Martin Schelgel said Poligras was the future of the sport by combining vibrant new colour schemes, environmentally responsible technology and a playable surface demanded by elite hockey athletes.
The Dandenong business has been working on its bid since the announcement that the 2012 Olympics would be held in London.
Construction of underground works began at the end of last year and all works will be completed by April 2012.
Ms Long said the process had been a detailed one, involving consultation and research on the colours and the pitch with the LOCOG and the International Hockey Federation (FIH).
STI managing director Stephen Niven said the blue and pink pitches allowed STI to push the boundaries of design options.
“It has been an absolute pleasure working with such progressive and creative persons on the LOCOG and FIH teams,” Mr Niven said.
LOCOG director of sport Debbie Jevans said the committee was pleased to be installing the blue hockey pitches in 2012.
“We have carried out research with athletes and broadcasters and are looking forward to world-class hockey being played at a bespoke venue on a blue pitch.”
Ms Long said STI expected other leading hockey nations would want to install the new pitch for its Olympic training, following New Zealand which was the first country to have a London blue pitch installed.
It is not the first time STI has manufactured the hockey pitch for the Olympic competition. STI led the way with a terracotta run-off area at the Sydney 2000 Olympics and designed the mitred corner effect for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.