MUMBAI: The FIH’s decision to host back-to-back Hockey World Cups in India came after Hockey India assured a minimum guarantee as hosting rights fee that was massively higher than the next best offer that came in from Belgium.
While Hockey India has promised the FIH 3.5 million Swiss Francs (approximately Rs 260m), Belgium could assure only 1m Swiss Francs (Rs 75m), The Hockey Paper reports.
A senior Hockey India official confirmed profits guaranteed to the FIH, telling the UK publication it would be raised via sponsorships.
The official added the amount is a fraction of the budget for the tournament, which has not yet been officially revealed. The Odisha government had pumped in close to £45 million (Rs 4.24 billion) to host the 2018 edition.
India announced in the last week of November that the 2023 edition will be held in two cities in Odisha – Bhubaneswar (which hosted all matches in 2018) and Rourkela.
