NSW Deputy Premier and Minister for Tourism and Major Events Troy Grant and Minister for Sport and Recreation Stuart Ayres today announced the series will feature at Sydney Olympic Park next month.

Mr Grant said it is fantastic Sydney will host international hockey for the first time since 2009.

‘Hockey is one of Australia’s most popular participation sports, with over 125,000 registered players, so there will be no shortage of interest in the matches,’ Mr Grant said.

‘China is the number one inbound market for NSW tourism, and the Test series will provide our State with valuable exposure as well as attracting visitors to come to Sydney for the games.

‘This is yet another example of how we continue to strengthen the economic and cultural ties between China and NSW while also boosting the local visitor economy in line with the NSW Government’s goal of doubling overnight visitor expenditure by 2020.’

The NSW Liberals & Nationals Government is also proudly supporting the 2016 Masters Hockey World Cup, which is set to attract more than 2,000 players to the State from 30 March to 5 April 2016.

‘The Masters Hockey World Cup will attract more than 100 hockey teams from around the World to regional NSW and will be contested by men over the age of 60,’ Mr Grant said.

Mr Ayres has encouraged fans to support our Hockeyroos next month in the Test series against China.

‘Hockey is extremely popular in China and with their team ranked no. 5 in the World, it promises to be a highly anticipated series against our no. 2 ranked Hockeyroos.

‘There is no greater time to be a hockey fan in NSW,’ Mr Ayres added.

These two events will join a packed calendar, which also includes the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015, Game One of the State of Origin series, the Bledisloe Cup, Touch Football World Cup, Sydney International Rowing Regatta, FIA World Rally Championships, Netball World Cup and many more.

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