instrumental in helpng Russia being awarded another major event after they were chosen to host the 2016 Ice Hockey

Rivals Ukraine and Denmark both withdrew before the final vote at the International Ice Hockey Federation

(IIHF) Congress in Bratislava.Putin joined the Russian delegation, which included Russian Hockey Federation

hockey.Putin also claimed to having some "first-hand experience of playing this truly great game" of hockey

the Championships, Putin also received a special gift from the President of the IIHF, Rene Fasel – a hockey

By Duncan Mackay in Kuala LumpurMay 10 - There is set to be a new push to get Twenty20 cricket into the Commonwealth Games, it has been revealed.

list of category one sports remains unaltered – aquatics-swimming, athletics, badminton, men's boxing, hockey

By Tom Degun in London May 6 – London 2012 have today announced that over 150,000 tickets will go on sale for the test event programme, which is being branded as the "London Prepares" series, with prices set to vary from event to event but range between £5 to £35.

addition, there will be another five London 2012 ticketed events that take place in May 2012 which will be hockey

at the Hockey Centre, wheelchair tennis at Eton Manor, water polo at the Aquatics Centre and athletics

By Tom DegunMay 6 - Jens Grill has been appointed Badminton England performance director in a series of key staff changes as the Great Britain World Class Performance Programme (WCPP) announced a reshuffle of the organisation heading into the London 2012 Olympic Games.

quitsDecember 2010: GB Badminton to ask itself "hard questions" to meet challenge of funding cutDecember 2010: Hockey

boyfriend was a firefighter; Todd Eldredge, a three-time Olympian in figure skating; Angela Ruggiero, a hockey

By Tom DegunApril 29 - Tickets for the 2011 Sainsbury's UK School Games in Sheffield this September have gone on sale for just £5 ($8) per day.

Park.Meanwhile the final UK School Games in Sheffield will se athletics, badminton, fencing, gymnastics, hockey

badminton, fencing and volleyball at the English Institute of sport, gymnastics and judo at iceSheffield, hockey

By Tom DegunApril 20 - The British Sledge Hockey Association (BSHA) has announced that Planet Ice, the

UK's largest ice leisure provider, will be sponsoring the 2011 British Sledge Hockey (BSHL) League.

The BSHL will feature a number of the top sledge hockey teams in the UK including the Battle Back Bisons

Kestrels and the Peterborough Phantoms.Matt Lloyd, the chairman of the BSHA, said: "The British Sledge Hockey

interest from people who are getting excited about next year's London 2012 Paralympic Games and the ice hockey

fans who are looking for a hockey fix over the summer."

We are also really fortunate to have Planet Ice as our league sponsor as they bring ice hockey and event

By Tom DegunApril 20 - Haider Ali, who won a gold medal in the long jump at the Asian Para Games in Guangzhou last year, has claimed that the Pakistani Government should provide jobs to top Paralympic athletes in order to reward them for their performances.

The Government announced attractive incentives for the Pakistan hockey team, the Pakistan cricket team

April 18 - Temporary structures specialist Neptunus has been awarded a major contract by Prestige Ticketing to supply a corporate hospitality venue for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, they have announced.

designers, the Park will be home to, amongst others, the Velodrome, Aquatics Centre, Basketball Arena, Hockey

By Tom DegunApril 16 - Great Britain's top table tennis stars Paul Drinkhall and Jack Hunter-Spivey joined local schoolchildren in Sheffield in order to celebrate the city hosting the final edition of the annual Sainsbury's UK School Games this September.

included in Sheffield.The programme now includes cycling, athletics, badminton, fencing, gymnastics, hockey

By Tom DegunApril 16 - Lee Valley White Water Centre in Hertfordshire, which will be the London 2012 Olympic canoe slalom course, has won the bid to host 2015 International Canoe Federation (ICF) Canoe Slalom World Championships, it has been announced.

after the 2012 Games following failed bids to host the 2015 World Athletics Championships and 2014 Hockey

By Duncan MackayApril 16 - British Bobsleigh has made another key appointment in the build-up to the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi with former competitor Chris Woolley taking over as performance manager.

2010: British Bobsleigh will "leave no stone unturned" in Sochi 2014 medal questDecember 2010: Hockey

Duncan MackayApril 13 - Werner Augsburger is to quit his role as head of Switzerland's National Hockey

It is probably comparable to a Swiss ice hockey player who gets the chance to play in the [North American

] National Hockey League."

By Duncan MackayApril 10 - Welsh stars Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey (pictured) will not be banned from international football if they play for Britain at London 2012, they have been assured, as the Home Nations begin to soften their stance on letting their players take part in the Olympic football tournament.

This model is used very effectively in other team sports, such as hockey and basketball."

By Emily GoddardApril 10 - Brunel University will play host to the South Korean Olympic team after being named as its official London 2012 training camp following a special ceremony attended by several dignitaries.

be based at Brunel.The Korean athletes, from 10 disciplines, who also include gymnastics, handball, hockey